Currently reading Numbers 11:1-23, and I am amazed at how the Lord responds to the complaining and whining coming from the Israelites. From my safe spot on the sofa, with Bible in hand, already knowledgeable on what the outcome will be, I often find myself rolling my eyes at the Israelites. Were they not just walking across the dry floor of the ocean with walls of water surrounding. Did they not just watch their enemies swallowed up in those same walls? Have they not been travelling, led by a cloud of God's presence? Come on Israelites?! How easily I am quick to judge and be prideful, when in all reality, I relate with them so well.
The very first word of this passage is soon. It didn't take much time for the people of Israel, God's chosen and promised people, to "Soon...beg[i]n to complain about their hardship." Yet the next few words are so powerful, "and the LORD heard everything they said." He is a God who hears! But let's be real. He is a God who loves His people and listens, even to their whining, yet he is also just, "Then the LORD's anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them." The people scream for help, and Moses intercedes, pleading for God to stop. God stops and the people, in awe of the power of the One who hears them, name that place Taberah ("the place of burning"). God's fire burned among them there. Scary to us, yes. But so powerful. God was revealing Himself and His power to them!
But then, in the very next paragraph, after God sent fire among the people, and even "destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp," the Israelites "began to crave the good things of Egypt....'Oh, for some meat!' they exclaimed." They 'reminded God' of the fish, and fresh, sweet, and savory produce they had for free in Egypt. "But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!" And so, yet again, God hears and becomes "extremely angry." Moses then begins to feel the pressure and anxiety rise, as he is the one to interceede between the people and God. After listing off question after question about why he should bear their burdens alone, God hears. Now I'm not a Biblical scholar, but it seemed like to me in verses 11-14 that Moses is complaining. He, like the Israelites is whining about the whining. Such shallow people we are! Yet God hears him and provides. He instructs Moses to gather seventy men to be elders and leaders. He shares His Spirit amongst them, "They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone." Even though Moses was complaining, God reminds him, and us, that we weren't made to be alone. We weren't made to do everything by ourselves.
I love what God then tells Moses to relay on to the people, "You were whining, and the LORD heard you when you cried, 'Oh, for some meat! We were better off in Egypt!' Now the LORD will give you meat and you will have to eat it...You will eat it for a whole month until you gag and are sick of it. For you have rejected the LORD who is here among you, and you have whined to him saying, 'Why did we ever leave Egypt?'" Then Moses, caught up in logistics asked God how in the world to feed meet to 600,000 soldiers...for an entire month? "Even if I butchered all our flocks and herds, would that satisfy them? Even if we caught all the fish in the sea, would that be enough?" Then God responds powerfully, "Has my arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!"
He exclusively provides and gives grace to the people...even when they are undeserving. And this God is the same today, exclusively providing and bestowing grace to people like me, who also whine and complain about the "wilderness" or lack of food and supply. He hears. He answers. He reveals His power and character. His grace and provision is exclusive, because He is grace and provision. He owns and is everything.
No comments:
Post a Comment