Numbers 11

I laughed out loud as I usually do when reading this chapter. The Israelites are complaining. I know, shocker. This time they are sitting outside their tents wailing because they are tired of the manna God had graciously provided for them to eat every day.

I guess we’re not the first generation that thinks they need to put their emotions on public display. Take a selfie and post it on social media. Or just sit outside your tent so everyone can see you cry the ugly cry. Clicks and likes the Old Testament way.

The sound of thousands of people boo-booing must have grated on Moses’ last nerve because we read how he talked to God about it:

“WHY ME? What have I done for you to treat ME like this? Did I give birth to them? I can’t carry them myself. It’s too much for me!” Do you sense a pattern here?

I’m pretty sure most, if not all of us have a tendency to think like Moses here. “Why me?” seems to be our first response to hardship, too.

Now here comes the LOL moment. Moses says to God, “If this is how you’re going to treat me, JUST KILL ME NOW!”

I find that hilarious every time. Moses is whining about the whining of the Jews. Doesn’t that make them all whiners?

The Jews: “I’m sick of manna. I had it good in Egypt. I want meat.”

Moses: “I’m being treated unfairly. I’m sick of their complaining. I can’t take this.”

Once again the sin of self lifts its ugly head. It’s amazing God didn’t answer Moses’ plea and just wipe them all out in one felled swoop.

But God is slow to anger, with love overflowing, gracious beyond belief. Aren’t you glad?

As long as we are focused on ourselves we will be miserable, too. This fallen world comes with all kinds of trials big and small. Instead of thinking, “Me,” think “You.”

What do YOU want me to do, Lord? How can YOU use this for YOUR glory? How can YOU be seen in and through this situation as I submit to YOUR will?

It will make all the difference. Because God makes all the difference!