Numbers 11:10

Numbers 11:10 says, Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.  Moses heard the people weep because they didn't like what God was providing for them to eat.  God's anger was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased.  What angers God should at least displease us as followers of Christ, whether we are the ones guilty or doing it or whether we see others doing it.  Verse eleven adds, And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?  Of course, Moses then basically tried to blame God for the situation.  Though God was providing for their every need, Moses asked why God afflicted him with all their burdens.  We too often want to complain to God when we feel that things are not going right, instead of thanking Him for His abundant love and mercy.  Verse twelve continues, Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?  Moses asked God if he should be responsible for the people of Israel as if they were all his children.  Since God had entrusted Moses with this responsibility, the answer was yes.  Moses saw it as a terrible burden instead of as a great privilege.  I believe we too often complain about what God has given us the great privilege of doing because we see it as a burden instead.  Verse thirteen asks, Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.  Moses asked God where he could get enough meat for the people to eat instead of asking why God put up with their complaining.  I don't believe that we should ever claim that God will give Christians everything they want, but should instead profess the truth that He will give them everything they need.  We are too often a complaining people instead of a praising people as followers of Christ.  Verse fourteen adds, I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.  Moses said he couldn't bear all the responsibility alone, and he was right.  God was there to enable him to do what he had been called to do, and He will do the same for us today.  We are never alone in doing what God has called us to do, but as Christians always have the Holy Spirit is empower us.  Verse fifteen continues, And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.  Moses then asked God if he had found favor in God's sight to just kill him.  At least Moses didn't say he was going to kill himself, but he put his fate in God's hands.  We may feel overwhelmed as Christians as we do what God has called us to do at times, and might even feel that we would be better off just leaving this old sinful world, but we should also know that whether we live or die is in God's hands.  Paul would later write of the same dilemma.  As Paul said, to die would be better from an everlasting perspective, but to live would be an opportunity to continue to share the gospel with others, and he placed it in God's hands, and so must we.  Verse sixteen declares, And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.  God told Moses to bring Him seventy elders that he knew to be dependable elders to the tabernacle so they could stand with Moses.  God answered Moses's complaint, even though Moses was never alone in serving God.  He already had Aaron and his sons as well as the Levites to help him, but God was providing him additional help.  If we are doing what God calls us to do, He has already provided us with all the help we need to do it, yet we often complain, and He may give us additional help, whether we really need it or not.  Verse seventeen adds, And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.  God told Moses that when these seventy were gathered that He would come down and put the same Spirit in them that was in Moses.  As followers of Christ, we already have the same Holy Spirit living in us, and we are never alone in bearing the burdens of life as we do God's work.  The Holy Spirit is there to equip and empower us to do whatever God calls us to do, and as long as we are following in faith, we really never should feel overwhelmed.