He [Moses] 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? . . . 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
He was at the end of his rope! Moses had spent nearly 40 years in the wilderness with a ragtag bunch of misfits who were learning how to be God’s people all over again. Their years of Egyptian oppression had dulled their relationship with the Lord, and they complained again and again. This time it was the food. The people were disgusted with their daily diet of manna. They baked it, broiled it, cooked it, and boiled it, but the taste was the same. Oh, for those good old days back in Egypt!
Moses had taken all he could; and in his self-pity, he did what he despised. He complained. “Lord, I never asked for this job. These are your people, your children, not mine. I didn’t give birth to them, I can’t change their diapers or rock them to sleep, and I surely can’t feed them all. Why are you putting this burden on me? If this is what life is all about, please, just end it now. I’m at the end of my rope!”
It seemed Moses had the same rope as Jonah, Elijah, and Job, who also prayed for an early end to it all (Jonah 4:3, 1 Kings 19:4, Job 6:8). In answer to each prayer, the Lord assured them there was a purpose to their lives. His purpose. Purpose which we at times have problems seeing because our eyes get dimmed with frustration and despair. The Lord answered Moses’ prayer with the remarkable words: “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you” (Num. 11:23).
When the mountains seem too great to climb, or when we’re down to the frayed ends of our ropes, we ask ourselves if it is the Lord’s arms that are too short or if our faith is too weak. When the troubles of today make us lose sight of God’s grace for tomorrow, we must take our burdens to the Lord in prayer. And when we do, we must be ready to leave them there. God’s long, loving arms are waiting for us!
Give God all your burdens today.
From The Gift of Prayer