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Numbers 11:11-17, 2511And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? 12Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? 13Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. 14I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. 16And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. 17And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. (Numbers 11:11‑17)
25And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. (Numbers 11:25).
WHEN the people of Israel had complained so much to Moses, he went to the Lord, and said, “Wherefore hast Thou afflicted Thy servant? that Thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.”
But we know Moses was not alone, because God did everything Himself for His people. The Lord did not rebuke Moses. He only said, “Gather unto Me seventy men of the elders of Israel; and bring them to the tabernacle of the congregation, and I will come down and talk with thee there; and I will take of the Spirit that is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.”
This was a dishonor to the Lord, as well as to Moses. If the Lord gives us any work to do for Him, He will give us the strength and ability to carry out His purposes, and we are only an instrument in His hands, to be used of Him. He does not leave us to do anything alone for Him. We would be sure to make great mistakes, and not do the work at all pleasing to Him. It is only as we are in dependence upon Him, and seeking His guidance, that we can do the smallest thing pleasing to Him.
ML 01/13/1924