Be Careful What You Ask For!

Numbers 11: 18-20 “And say to the people, ‘Purify yourselves, for tomorrow you will have meat to eat. 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. And it won’t be for just a day or two, or for five or ten or even twenty. 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?”

God, this burden is too heavy, you don’t understand. Why did you give me these hardships? How did you think that I could handle this? How am I to take care of all these responsibilities? Where am I supposed to get my help to do all this? I can’t DO it by myself!!! The load is far too heavy!! If this is what you intended my life to be, why am I even here??

Does any of that sound familiar to you? Have any of you every said these things to God? I confess, I have said these words too many times, I have whined and felt sorry for myself and grumbled and complained!!! God revealed through Numbers 11, that I am not alone. The words above are a very close translation from Moses words in Numbers 11:12-15. Moses was in charge of the people of Israel and they started complaining that they were sick and tired of Manna and wanted MEAT. They craved it and remembered all the “good” meat and spices that were free in Egypt. Moses was tired of this and didn’t know what to tell the Israelites and how to handle the situation, so he pleaded to God “Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people?”

God responded to Moses by gathering 70 men who were recognized as elders and leaders in Israel and God put some of His spirit on them so that Moses would not have to carry it alone!! What a gracious and loving God. He heard Moses plea and He responded with others to help!!

So Moses got the help he was looking for, but God was not happy about the whining and complaining of the children of Israel. They wanted meat, so God gave them meat and as it says in Numbers 11:20 “You will eat it for a whole month until you gag and are sick of it”! I almost want to laugh at them, but I have to restrain myself because it really hits so close to home.

How many times have I grumbled and complained about my circumstances and left God’s care and provision power out of the equation. Only to find out the thing I so wanted when it came did not provide what I thought it would. We look so often to our physical comforts and desires that we forget to look at the bigger picture, at the blessings that we have. We obsess with the “meat” and forget about the Red Sea experiences that have preceded us and how God provided!!! Wendy Pope, speaker and writer from Proverbs 31 wrote in her daily blog Experiencing the Real Meaning of Free, “Be Careful What You Say When You Wail-you might just die in your wilderness. Scary thought.”

God is here and He hears us, He will even bring people around us to help us carry the load!!! We are so not alone!! God is capable to carry the burden for us!! I believe God wants us to come to Him when we are empty and burdened and to surrender everything to Him!! We shouldn’t wait so long to ask for help!! God is our provider!!

Today, I ask you to consider two things; first what “meat” are you asking for today? Think about why you want this “meat” and what is the reason behind it? Is it a selfish “meat”? Have you forgotten the blessings that have been given to you and are only focused on the “meat”!! I challenge you to start thinking about the Manna that God has provided for us and not so much on the “meat" we do not have!!

Second, I give you permission to ask the Lord and your friends for help when the burden seems so heavy to carry. I am discovering this personally as I have started this journey of letting GOD and others help me!! It is such a humble experience!! In Numbers 12:3 it says “Now Moses was very humble.” The definition of humble is “not proud or arrogant; modest”. In Numbers 12: 6-8 the Lord is speaking to Aaron and Miriam He says “But not with my servant Moses. Of all my house, he is the one I trust. I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles!! He sees the Lord as he is.” What a challenge!! I want to be humble and I want to see the Lord as HE is!! He is all powerful, my provider, my help in trouble!! I CANNOT do it by myself, and God never intended for us to even try to journey through this life alone!! He died on the cross for us; He took our burdens upon the cross!! He has empowered people on earth with different gifting to provide in tangible ways here on earth!! God’s strength is always available!! Cling to HIM and He will provide all you need for today!!