Recently, I read Numbers 11 and was deeply moved by:

Moses

He didn’t ask to be in his leadership role. In fact, God called him to lead the Israelites out of slavery. Moses didn’t want to go back to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to free his people!

He fled from Egypt 40 years prior – after killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. He had a new life in Midian and a family – he was chillin. Nevertheless, Moses:

Obeyed God’s Call

Giving God our “Yes” doesn’t mean we aren’t going to have moments where we are like forget this!!! The heaviness of the assignment and our inadequacy births a dependency on God to overcome every odd. This is where God wants us. It’s uncomfortable not being able to carry the load on our own, but that discomfort is what will keep us at the throne! When you feel like you are being thrown to and fro’ and can’t take it no mo’:

Approach God’s Throne

Don’t come with a neat “religious holier than thou” script – come with your messy “this is too heavy, help me” fit! Allow the weight to make you bow at the feet of Jesus!

Cry out! Cry out! Cry out! Screams, sobs, snot and shouts – are welcome!

In Numbers 11, the Israelites constant complaining was too burdensome. They were always murmurin’ about somethin’! This caused Moses to have questions for God! Seems like a common trait amongst those called by God. 🙂 I mean come on – God had called Moses to lead a “stiff necked people” and he:

Felt like God was torturing him.

The Israelites wanted to abort the uncomfortable Promise Land journey, desiring to go back to Egypt. They romanticized the “perks” of their captivity and down-played God’s miracles. They constantly complained, and were not loyal to God. God gave Moses the assignment to lead the Israelites – so Moses was like aight – let me:

Give this leadership burden right back to God!

He asked the LORD, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.” Numbers 11:11-15

Geeze! What an honest gut wrenching confessional prayer!!! Moses was honest about wanting out for real! He wanted to get called to the Pearly Gates that’s how much he was over leading the Israelites!

He wanted to die over his God assigned why.

This specific burden was because the Israelites wanted some different food!?! Bruh!!! Sis!!! They were focused on temporary wilderness meals while Moses is trying to get them to the land “overflowing with milk and honey”. Sighs. Moses was in a God given assignment that he could only get out of by death, but his lived experience felt like torture. Talk about tension and needing God’s presence to endure until assignment completion.

Oh, but God heard his cry! God gave Moses a strategy to help him with his load! Read Numbers 11 to see how God spread Moses’s workload amongst 70 elders.

What did Moses have to do to get that support from God?

He had to:

• acknowledge the burden for real, while reminding God of the situation
• admit he was clueless and not self-sufficient
• ask God for help

You’ll have to read the rest of Numbers 11 for yourself for the details!

Basically, God gave the Israelites what they wanted, but it came with a punishment. Listen, God was over them too! Yet loved them!

When you find yourself in a situation or season that feels burdensome:

Cry out to Jesus for help!

Be real. Be honest! You may not get your strategy immediately, but know that God hears your cry and is moving to give you strong support.

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” – 2 Chronicles 16:9

May your heart be fully devoted to him and not trust in humans to save you, but in God himself. Humans may be used as conduits, but they are not the source! Keep God first as you navigate your course.

Love,