The gifted athletes of our time have come to be heroes. Mohammad Ali proclaimed himself as the greatest boxer. Jim Brown declares himself to be the greatest running back in football history. Many consider Michael Jordan to be the greatest basketball player of his era. Michael Phelps is widely considered the greatest swimmer of all time. But these sports figures will eventually be largely forgotten. They also pale in comparison to one who is still remembered as the individual the Lord considered to be one of the greatest of His human servants.

Deuteronomy 34:10 pays tribute to Moses by saying, “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” But what made Moses such a great man in the eyes of God? Hebrews 11:24-26 tells us that as a man of faith in Jehovah, when Moses “was come to years” in Pharoah’s house, he refused the “pleasures of sin for a season.” Instead, he chose to align himself with God’s people, the nation of Israel. When the Lord called Moses to be His instrument through whom He would deliver Israel from the bondage of Egypt, Moses thought himself unworthy. This was primarily because “Moses was very meek [or humble], above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). This attitude of inadequacy was, in large part, what qualified him for service because it helped him rely on the Lord and gave Jehovah all the glory. As God’s representative to Israel, whenever instructed by the Lord, he consistently “called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him” (Exodus 19:7). He did not refuse the opportunity to be God’s spokesman, nor did he add to, or take away from, the words of the Lord. Therefore, God described Moses as, “My servant…who is faithful in all Mine house” (Numbers 12:7). Indeed, Moses was faithful, not just for a time, but also for decades, and under many adverse circumstances. Finally, “…the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend” (Exodus 33:11). Moses had a regular and intimate relationship with the Lord.

While we today are not to follow the Law of Moses, we should seek to emulate the qualities that made Moses great. May we purpose to cultivate genuine humility, an intimate interaction with God in prayer, willingness to serve Him, carefulness with His Word, and faithfulness over many years.