If we believe that we are humble human beings that's probably a sign that we have a little way to go (at least a little!). Moses is called the humblest of all servants. Already in the Book of Exodus he spoke of himself as being a man lacking words. He doubted Pharoah or the Jewish People would listen to him.
Why do you think God chose him as leader if he reported his own weakness?
In this week's parsha, we are told that Moses was very humble, more so than anyone.
(1) ענו means, humble/considerate, self-effacing and patient.
We do not often think about the context of being informed of Moses' humility. That verse comes in chapter 12. What happened in the chapter just before we learn that? Look at chapter 11 and notice Moses' "I statements." Notice how he looks inwards and to others to help carry the Jewish People forward this time.
After Moses expresses hope that others would be as divinely inspired as he is, his brother and sister speak against him. Tradition holds that they were either insulting his wife or, moreover, that they were holding Moses accountable to his wife, because Moses was the absent husband and father. His "holy work" took precedence, and according to our sources he was the man never home, always working for "the company!"
God calls them together and helps them find peace, as siblings, leaders and human beings. Some will rise to positions of power, some will serve in other ways. Each with his or her own mission, God assures them that individually they serve holy purposes. We, too, must understand our roles, places, and how holy our lives are. We, too have unique purposes. Sometimes we lead, and there is sacred followership and partnership to forge as well.
But God's anger about the tension between and among them raged on. Moses could have jumped on God's bandwagon and belittled his brother and sister. But he chose instead to turn to the Lord and ask for healing. He thought of Aaron and particularly Miriam.
The man, Moshe [was] most humble. The meaning of humble is that Moshe paid no attention to his honor or pains. This was not because he felt lowly and did not realize that such a lack of respect and pain was not worthy of him. Rather, it was because he conducted himself without concern for honor.
How do we develop our humble spirits? What does being humble mean according to our sacred library?
Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Satanov
Always seek to learn wisdom from every man, to recognize your failings and correct them. In doing so you will learn to stop thinking about your virtues and you will take your mind off your friend's faults.
We now understand what humility is. It is not self-abasement. A statement often attributed to C.S. Lewis puts it best: humility, it states, is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
“[T]he Torah wants Man to work on nature and improve it, to conquer the earth and understand it, but at the same time to perceive the world in its hidden and obscure state, thus maintaining Man’s lowliness and humility.”
Rabbi Dr. Aharon Lichtenstein