Moses and Samson: Lessons in Humility

Dictionary.com defines humility as “modest opinion or estimate of one’s own importance…” Some of its synonyms are modesty, lowliness, meekness, etc. These attributes are portrayed all throughout the Bible in the lives of many Biblical figures as well as direct references. Perhaps the most famous references are found in the Beatitudes in Matthew, and also in Micah 6:8. Moses was one of the most devout followers of God. While he had his rough times, he remains one of the great examples of this characteristic that is vitally needed in the world today. Samson is a good example of the consequences of the lack of humility. His pride, most times, got in his own way.


Moses was born in the days when the Pharaoh of Egypt was becoming afraid of the growing population of the Hebrew slaves. He feared that they were becoming so numerous that they would someday start an uprising. As a result, he issued an order mandating that all Hebrew male babies were to be killed. Moses’ mother hid him and made a basket to put him in and sent him down the river. Pharaoh’s daughter found him and hired his mother to care for him.

Moses basically had it all from this point till he fled Egypt. He grew up as a prince and was educated with the best education of the time. However, in due time, he realized his true heritage. One day, when he saw an Egyptian abusing a Hebrew, he lost his temper and killed the Egyptian. Afterward he fled Egypt and spent several decades as a shepherd for a Midian named Jethro. This time probably helped him learn several lessons in the way of humility. He went from being a wealthy prince, to being a shepherd.

However, God was not content to leave Moses where he was. Having humbled Moses, He now wanted to call him to what would become his life’s calling. Moses tried to make excuses but ultimately obeyed God and went back to Egypt. He was afraid of going back to the land he fled. He didn’t want to be killed by the Egyptians. He wasn’t sure the Israelites would even listen. But he still went. He let go of his fears and pride and completely abandoned his own desires which enabled him to follow God’s plan. He ran into several road blocks—most notably Pharaoh himself. Pharaoh constantly stood in the way of letting them go and when he finally did, he chased after them and eventually lost his life when the parted Red Sea collapsed over him and his soldiers.

Moses’ humility allowed him to be submissive to God to the point where he prayed seemingly regularly for God to avert pouring His wrath over the Israelites. He still made sure they were punished but I believe this is a testament to the love Moses had for his people. However, even the greats of the Bible still had rough patches. In Numbers 20, God told Moses to speak to the rock and it would bring forth water. However, Moses struck the rock twice instead. Water still came out but it was for this action that Moses was not allowed to lead Israel into the Promised Land.

While Samson is one of my favorite Biblical characters, his humility was almost non-existent. His parents were told never to let a razor touch his head. He was to be the judge over Israel. As Samson grew and realized what he was called to do and the great strength God displayed through him, he became proud. He was still used by God in many occasions to defeat the Philistines, but most times he followed his own way.

For example, he went to a Philistine village and saw a beautiful woman. He then told his parents he wanted her as his wife. Although they tried to convince him to take an Israelite wife, he would not listen. The wedding eventually happened but things got out of hand and his wife was given to someone else. He got revenge by letting 300 foxes lose in a field, tied by the tail in pairs with torches in the knot. Of course, the Philistines countered by killing his wife and her father and Samson responded with killing probably hundreds of Philistines.

Probably the most famous story of Samson is his relationship with the woman, Delilah. Delilah was bribed by the Philistines to figure out what the secret of Samson’s strength was. She nagged him constantly and failed 3 times to find out the secret. He became so tired of it that he finally told her everything. When she realized this, she called for the Philistines. They shaved his head, put out his eyes, and made him a slave grinding grain in prison.

Perhaps the most important verse of Judges 15 is verse 22. It states, “But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.” The author E. G. White says this: “In suffering and humiliation, a sport for the Philistines, Samson learned more of his own weakness than he had ever known before; and his afflictions led him to repentance. As his hair grew, his power gradually returned; but his enemies, regarding him as a fettered and helpless prisoner, felt no apprehensions.” (Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pg 266).

Samson took the wrong way and made the wrong choices for most of his adult life. As a result, God let him suffer the consequences. It was this defeat that led Samson to humility and repentance. God allowed him one final act of service to Him. Samson rested his arms on two pillars. Samson prayed one final prayer to God and pushed with all his might. He was given the strength to bring down two supporting pillars which in turn brought down the whole building and killed thousands of Philistines.
Moses and Samson are polar opposites in character and humility. But both were servants of God and both are mentioned in Hebrews 11, also known as the Hall of Faith. Great lessons can be learned from both men. One practiced humility throughout his life, while it took the other a grave defeat to bring him to humility.