October 26, 2015

“The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at. Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, all at the entrances of their tents. Then the Lord became very angry, and Moses was displeased. So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? Did I conceive all this people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a sucking child,’ to the land that you promised on oath to their ancestors? Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they come weeping to me and say, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I am not able to carry all this people alone, for they are too heavy for me. If this is the way you are going to treat me, put me to death at once—if I have found favor in your sight—and do not let see my misery”. Numbers 11:4-6, 10-15

There is a painful hunger among the people for meat and fish – a hunger among the rabble, those who have joined the wanderings . There was a craving for the old diet. They were tired of the manna. In fact they were so despondent that they “craved” their slavery in Egypt — freedom has brought them a “bland” diet. And, incredibly, Moses agrees. And Moses is harsh with G*d: “Did I conceive these people? Did I give birth to them?” Moses is trying to remind G*d that they are G*d’s responsibility. G*d must be a part of the caring for these people.

First it was Moses who wrestled with G*d when he was called to lead the people out of Egypt. Then it was the people who were wrestling with G*d: “We have no water. We have no meat to eat.” Now it is Moses again wrestling with G*d over these people who cannot make up their minds. They try to commit completely to G*d, but fear holds them back. Is it fear now that drives Moses to confront G*d?

G*d wants to remind Moses that it is G*d who has given he and the people their gifts. And when G*d gives you more, G*d may demand more. Have you ever thought about that? When G*d has heaped upon you blessing after blessing, does it not make sense that G*d has the right to demand more from you? In fact it is in Luke 12:48 where it reads “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.”

Moses says “If I have found favor in your sight, put me to death now and do not let me see my misery.” It appears that Moses is trying to own the responsibility, and yet he feels helpless, and so is seeking any way through – even death. And so G*d arranges for Moses to get help from the people – 70 elders, men of authority.

There will be times in our lives where we feel helpless and where complaining or even death seems to be the only recourse. And then there are times where we feel helpless and realize that we cannot bear the burdens all on our own. G*d is always there to help us bear our burdens, and there will be others placed into our midst to whom we can reach out for assistance. It is our responsibility to ask G*d for help, and our responsibility to realize that G*d may ask more from us. Either way, we need only trust G*d to help us through.

Pastor Dave