4. 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?
5. 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 forefathers?
6. 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.
7. If this is how you are going to
treat me, put me to death
right now--if I have found
favor in your eyes--and do
not let me face my own ruin."
8. The LORD said to Moses:
"Bring me seventy of Israel's
elders who are known to you
as leaders and officials
among the people. Have
them come to the Tent of
Meeting, that they may stand
there with you.
9. I will come down and speak
with you there, and I will take
of the Spirit that is on you
and put the Spirit on them.
They will help you carry the
burden of the people so that
you will not have to carry it
alone.
11. 2. The land between is fertile
ground for four things that
must not take root:
WORRY, STRESS,
ANGER, and
DISCOURAGEMENT.
12. 3. The way to limit worry,
stress, anger and
discouragement from taking
root is to give up attempting
to control things the way
we want them and turn
towards our Maker and
admit that we need him.
13. a. The difference between
the Israelite’s and Moses’
complaint: The Israelites
complained about God.
Moses complained to
God.
14. b. God responds to our
turn towards him with
love and
compassion.
15. c. Our view of God affects
whether we will seek him in
the hour of crisis. If we view
him as unconcerned, we
will not turn to him…
16. …If we view him as
concerned, caring, and
with us, we will be more
likely to draw near to him.
17. 4. Use the Psalms to learn
how to cry out to God.
18. 5. Cling to the belief that God
is good and present with
us
19. 6. Create reminders of
God’s goodness and
faithfulness and presence in
the past so that you can
have hope that God will be
faithful again.
Editor's Notes
The land between is a metaphor for transitions is life.
Moving from here to there. For the Israelites, their wilderness wandering was not intended to be a waste but was intended to be a time of building the foundation for being God’s holy people. They left Egypt acclimated to the world of idolatry. They were about to inherit a promised land flowing with milk and honey living in the presence of the only true God and they had to develop their spiritual foundation to learn to love and obey God.
It was in this wilderness that God revealed his character and his presence and his plan. As the story continues we see the complaining about the manna intensify. We saw their complaint about the manna wishing for the leeks and meat of Egypt but God revealed what was truly in their heart…they felt they were better off without God. Now their complaints are directed at Moses. Moses prays:
Why?
I cannot carry this anymore
The burden is too heavy
Just kill me.
Moses is not the only one in scripture. Elijah learned that Jezebel planned to kill him. 1 Kings 19:3-5 records his response: he came to a tree, sat down, and prayed: “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life….”
Jeremiah has a meltdown after preaching in the temple and being arrested, beaten, and placed in stocks all night: “Cursed be the day I was born. May the day my mother bore me not be blessed. Why did I ever come out of the womb to see sorrow and trouble and to end my days in shame?” (Translated: “I wish I’d never been born.)
What are you burdened with? Are you sick of it yet?
These are reactions all show skewed perceptions of God.
Worry shows a lack of trust that God is not powerful enough to handle our problem.
Stress implies that we think what we are doing is so significant it requires our tight controlling grip
Anger is a response when we lose that controlling grip…many of us try to control others with anger
Discouragement shows a lack of understanding that there is hope in a God who writes our story from beginning to end.
Perhaps a slowness to pray towards God is rooted in a believe God is indifferent, uncaring, or unloving…YOU TUBE GEIKO COMMERCIAL…Maybe we expect God to act this way if we came whining to him. Perhaps our slowness to pray towards God is rooted in the lie that God does not care about us.
But:
God to Moses: gave him help and lightened his load
God to Elijah: sent an angel to touch him, baked him bread and gave him water.
Jesus to all: matt 11:28 - Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.
Maybe we don’t know how to cry out to God. Maybe we are afraid. Maybe we need a guide. The psalms have many prayers depicting crying out
PS 69 1-2 Save me o God for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. (in other words…I’m in over my head!)
Ps 13 begins with David’s plea: “How long God will my enemy triumph over me? How long will you hide your face from me?
But verse 5-6 read: “but I trust in your unfailing love. My heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me.
