How can a strong person be meek?

Exodus 32:19-20When they came near the camp, Moses saw the calf and the dancing, and he burned with anger. He threw the stone tablets to the ground, smashing them at the foot of the mountain. He took the calf they had made and burned it. Then he ground it into powder, threw it into the water, and forced the people to drink it.

Numbers 12:3(Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.)

Moses was one of the greatest and strongest leaders ever, yet he was truly meek.

2 Samuel 16:9-12“Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?” Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded. “Let me go over and cut off his head!” “No!” the king said. “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?” Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.”

David, the powerful warrior and king, was truly meek, as demonstrated by his response to criticism.

Proverbs 16:32Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

Patience and self-control—elements of meekness—demonstrate inner strength.

Isaiah 53:4-5, 7It was our weaknesses he [the Messiah] carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. . . . He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

Matthew 27:12-14, 39-40When the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise. . . . The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

John 1:3God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

Hebrews 1:3The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

Jesus’ power and strength are infinite. He created the whole world, and he sits on a heavenly throne; yet, he was perfectly meek. Rather than allow the mockery, lies, insults, or even physical torture to anger him and cause him to sin, he endured them for our sake. He could have chosen to avoid that fate many, many different times, but instead he faced it meekly. This meekness is the greatest example of strength we will ever know.