Numbers 11:18-23 (ESV)

Originally published 08/08/2025

The Israelites were freed from slavery and being led to a land that God would give them, but they were complaining that the food God was miraculously providing had no meat. God told Moses: "And say to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, "Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt." Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat. You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept before him, saying, "Why did we come out of Egypt?" But Moses said, "The people among whom I am number six hundred thousand on foot, and you have said, 'I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month!' Shall the flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, and be enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, and be enough for them?' And the LORD said to Moses, "Is the LORD's hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not’" Numbers 11:18-23 (ESV). What a terrible thing for Moses to have to tell the people of Israel that something "impossible" was going to happen. Lord, I know how Moses felt. I often see people whose marriage is wrecked, people destroyed by habits and addictions, people who are crushed by events that destroyed the life they planned, relationships broken, and you ask me to tell them that you can save them. When I tell them, I know they think that I am naive and not in touch with reality. Lord, give me the courage to tell people the truth about your power, no matter how foolish I might look to them.


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