Broken to Harness
The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 29:19
Moses killed an Egyptian man with his bare hands because he was beating a Hebrew brother. Exodus 2:11
He valiantly stood up and helped the daughters of the Midian priest when their flock was driven away by shepherds. Exodus 2:17
He repeatedly confronted Pharaoh, trying to persuade him to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt. (Exodus 7:7, 8:8, 8:20, 8:25, 9:27 and more).
He led the Israelites out of Egypt and to the Promised Land, though he would never live there. (Exodus)
Several times we read that Moses (and often Aaron with him) did as the Lord commanded (Exodus 7:6, 12:28, 16:23).
Then, in Numbers 12:3 we learn this about Moses: “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.”
We would usually read this statement and be reminded of the time when Moses objected to God’s call for him to lead the Israelites. Exodus 4:10 says Moses responded this way, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”
He sounds like he is trying to get out of this huge responsibility God has given him. In fact, God responded to him angrily because He was unhappy with his fearful answer. But this fear has nothing to do with meekness!
Christ said that the meek will inherit the earth.” Certainly Christ is not preserving the earth to be subdued by men too fearful to obey God’s commands.
In the study of the Beatitudesi mentioned in an earlier post (https://www.bethbingaman.com/what-a-relief/) the teacher taught what the word “meek” means in the Greek. It means “broken to harness.” As a horse must be trained to be disciplined while harnessed (and free) the meek who will inherit the earth will be disciplined under God’s training.
Moses was fearful to follow the Lord and obey His commands when the Lord first called him. Later in life God said he had become “meek” or disciplined. He had learned the value of obeying God’s commands. Initially this was with Aaron to give him courage, a gracious provision of God.
In Numbers 12:7 God calls Moses faithful and said he spoke with him “mouth to mouth, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD.”
This honor of being called faithful by God and the privilege of close communication came to Moses as he was willing to be trained (broken to harness) by God. He was a meek man by God’s own word.
We must see that this meekness is not weak or fearful. It is wise and faithful.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5
Are you and I among the meek? Does Wise and faithful and disciplined describe us? Have we been “broken to harness” by God, obeying His commands?
iExpositional Lectures, The Beatitutdes, R.J. Riuhdoony, Chalcedon Foundation, www.chalcedon.edu
Love this one!!! Not only because of horse reference, but in being broken to harness, the horse is to do nothing of his own. He is to stand til commanded to move. To move at whatever speed he is directed. To go in whatever direction the reins dictate. To stop and wait until told to move again. He obeys his master.
He wears blinders to keep him focused on the forward-the now, the future. Not what is past or to the side so he doesn’t shy from anything.
This is the Christian life. Just finished Watchman Nee’s book of the same name.
Home run Beth !!! B❤️❤️❤️
I know all of that but didn’t think about it in such detail as I was writing (obviously). You gave a great description of the Christian life. Thanks for commenting. Is Nee’s book entitled “Broken to Harness”?
Beth, I’d never heard “meek” defined this way, but I love it. It seems like it does a take a breaking within us before we are truly ready to let God lead us. You’ve got me thinking about this.
You’ve got me thinking on this question: Does Wise and faithful and disciplined describe us?
Great post!
Oh, sorry- it’s “The Christian Life”. 🤗
Thanks Jeanne, May Christ be praised for the work He does in us as we continue to be sanctified.
Beth – I’d always heard meekness described as great strength under great control, but had never heard the association with horses. Love this!
Ava, I like your definition, too. I have always known that “meekness wasn’t weakness” but had never seen it as clearly as “broken to harness.” “Great strength under great control” is an excellent way to say it. Thanks for adding to my understanding!
Beth, I like how you point out what meekness is and is not. “Certainly Christ is not preserving the earth to be subdued by men too fearful to obey God’s commands.” You further explain that meekness “is wise and faithful.”
“Broken to harness” is a wonderful picture of this wisdom and faithfulness. I think trials in our lives often provide that kind of breaking that matures us and teaches us to depend on God’s strength. Moses was a good example of total dependence on God. He certainly went through the trials in life, and from that, he showed incredible faith!
Thanks Marcie, I agree about the trials. The Lord has grown and sanctified me through the difficult days more than the pain free (though I do love those pain free days!).
“Certainly Christ is not preserving the earth to be subdued by men too fearful to obey God’s commands.”
When we have a healthy fear of God, we lose our fear of men.
I’m so glad God doesn’t leave us where we began. Thanks and God bless!
Love this definition of meek. Such a beautiful picture of Christ’s healing work in us as we submit to His Lordship in our lives. Blessings!
Nancy, I love this and may have to borrow it sometime: “When we have a healthy fear of God, we lose our fear of men.”
Thanks, Lisa, It seems that, as with Moses, meekness grows with the process of sanctification.
Obedience can be hard, when when we remember God is everything and God is in command, it’s far easier. Great reflection.
Great definition of meekness. I love it. If only the world could understand its true meaning.
Amen! Thanks Jessica.
Thanks Yvonne, I agree that it would be great if the world would understand!
Yes, meekness is not weak or fearful, but wise and faithful! Amen! May the Lord also train us in meekness. And staying in close communication with the Lord as we obey His commands!
Yes, Karen, I would love to think that I have been “broken to harness” to work for the Lord!
Thanks fort the comment.
Amazing post and much needed truth! Love the similarity to a horse.
I especially like this part: “In the study of the Beatitudes … the teacher taught what the word “meek” means in the Greek. It means “broken to harness.” As a horse must be trained to be disciplined while harnessed (and free) the meek who will inherit the earth will be disciplined under God’s training.
It’s interesting to think of life as training. Thanks and God bless!
Yes, Nancy, I believe that the whole process of sanctification is “training.”
Thanks Ava, I appreciate the encouragement.