Recently I've been reading Numbers. In the midst of all the detailed verses pertaining to numbering the tribes of Israel and the requirements of God for them concerning His tabernacle was chapter 11 which described the people complaining about their hard times.
1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused.
The people had chosen to forget the great deliverance God had shown them as they left slavery in Egypt or His power displayed as He opened the Red Sea so they could walk on dry land. They didn't think about how God directed their lives and provided for their needs even sending manna from heaven. Instead they focused on their hard times and thought back to the spices and herbs and meat they ate in Egypt.
Moses was frustrated with these complaining and unthankful children of Israel (can you imagine over a million whining children at your house?) and told God this responsibility was too much for him to bear alone. He even asked God if he could die! God instructed Moses on what to do to alleviate this burden.
God also told Moses that He would send meat to the Israelites. You can read the chapter for yourself to see all the particulars, but the verse that caught my eye was 23. God promised to send meat, but Moses replied in essence, "Um, Lord, in case You aren't aware, there are over 600,000 men not counting women and children. Even if we killed all the sheep and goats and caught all the fish in the sea, we would not have enough meat for all of them to have meat for a month!"
1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused.
The people had chosen to forget the great deliverance God had shown them as they left slavery in Egypt or His power displayed as He opened the Red Sea so they could walk on dry land. They didn't think about how God directed their lives and provided for their needs even sending manna from heaven. Instead they focused on their hard times and thought back to the spices and herbs and meat they ate in Egypt.
Moses was frustrated with these complaining and unthankful children of Israel (can you imagine over a million whining children at your house?) and told God this responsibility was too much for him to bear alone. He even asked God if he could die! God instructed Moses on what to do to alleviate this burden.
God also told Moses that He would send meat to the Israelites. You can read the chapter for yourself to see all the particulars, but the verse that caught my eye was 23. God promised to send meat, but Moses replied in essence, "Um, Lord, in case You aren't aware, there are over 600,000 men not counting women and children. Even if we killed all the sheep and goats and caught all the fish in the sea, we would not have enough meat for all of them to have meat for a month!"
This is a picture Samer sent me from Damascus around late 2007
So I loved the Lord's reply and it's what inspired this post.
23 The LORD answered Moses, "Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you."
Do you think the God who favors us with sunsets such as these, created the world out of nothing and has every hair on our heads numbered can't provide meat for His children? Is God's ability to provide limited by our shortsightedness and our focusing on the bad news all around us?
As Jesus reminded us in Matthew 7:
9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
Do we think God has short arms and cannot do as He promised? Let's ask Him and see whether or not what He says will come true for us. Amen?
Find comfort and Jesus' instruction on what to do in Matthew 6:25-34.
1 comment:
Do we think God has short arms and cannot do as He promised? Let's ask Him and see whether or not what He says will come true for us. Amen?
amen amen amen sis!!
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