Scripture: And say to the people, Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt.” Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat. You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”‘” But Moses said, “The people among whom I am number six hundred thousand on foot, and you have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month!’ Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, and be enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, and be enough for them?” And the LORD said to Moses, “Is the LORD’S hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.”
Numbers 11:18-23 ESV
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Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, upon arriving at the first leg of their wilderness journey, the people complain about their misfortunes. Arousing the Lord’s righteous anger, he places a ring of fire around the outlying parts of the camp. Consumed with fear, the people cry out to Moses, who then intercedes to the Lord, who relents. With the crisis not long over, the people lodge a new complaint regarding the lack of meat in their nomadic diet and pine for the good old days in Egypt, again inciting the Lord’s anger. Understandably, at this point, Moses expresses his displeasure to the Lord for having to lead this nation, for the burden is too heavy for him. Succumbing to self-pity, Moses further contends that Yahweh kill him if this dynamic continues without relief. Thankfully, Moses’ long-suffering Lord instead directs him to appoint seventy elders to share his burden in whom the Lord will impart on them some of the Spirit in Moses.
Today’s passage continues the drama of Israel’s incessant whining. The Lord further directs Moses to tell the people to consecrate themselves in preparation for a feast, for the Lord shall give them the meat they clamored to eat, not just for a day but for a month until it comes out of their nostrils and becomes loathsome to them. Moses, perplexed with how Yahweh will provide a month’s supply for six hundred thousand men (plus women and children) in the desert, questions how he will perform this feat, which leads to the Lord’s response: “Is the Lord’s hand shortened?” (v.23) Is the same God who invoked miraculous plagues on the Egyptians and delivered Israel from bondage incapable of fulfilling his promise?
Takeaway: As we touched on in yesterday’s devotion, here our text points us to the Gospels where the Son of God feeds five thousand men and their families on one occasion (Matthew 14:13–21, Mark 6:31–44, Luke 9:12–17, and John 6:1–14) and four thousand plus on another (Matthew 15:32–39 and Mark 8:1–9). Like Moses, in each instance, Jesus’ disciples question the feasibility of such an undertaking. Also, like Moses, the disciples, weary from the demands of their mission, need to refresh their faith in God. And the success of a seemingly impossible outreach proved to be just the thing.
Our takeaway? There are two. First, lest we scoff at Moses initially waffling in his faith in God, we would do well to reflect on how often we act as if the Lord has a shortened “hand” that does not reach the extent of our predicaments. In contrast, if we lean on him (instead of taking matters into our “hands”), he will “shorten” the extent of trials that build our faith in him.
Secondly, all of us struggle with ingratitude from time to time. When we do, we again act as if our Lord’s hand is too short to provide for our needs. And sometimes, we confuse needs with wants. Manna is all Israel truly needed to sustain them in their wilderness wanderings. Much of what we perceive as needs becomes muddled by secular marketing and advertising that aims to breed discontent in us.
Our part? Draw near Christ and his Holy Spirit and learn contentment with who we are (children of God) and what we possess (eternal life and the fruit of the Spirit). When we do, we will mature in restraint and wisdom that empowers us to serve the needs of others even when they express ingratitude. And if we persevere, our gracious Lord will satiate our deepest longings and quench our spiritual thirst from his mighty hand of provision and grace.
Prayer: Father God, we declare you are Yahweh-Yireh (God who provides), as evidenced by birthing and nurturing our spirits through the revelation of your Son’s Gospel. So when you call us to engage in seemingly impossible outreaches to the spiritually and physically hungry, please help us to learn contentment, step out in faith under the direction and power of your Holy Spirit, and persevere in showing the world that your hand is not too short. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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