“Exhausted by the Call”

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, October 5, 2021

"If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery.” (Numbers 11:15, NLT)

Moses has come to the end…the end of his patience, the end of his energy, the end of his emotional reserves. He’s done. He has been expending himself for the people of Israel as God had called him to, but after doing all he can on their behalf, they still incessantly whine at him. “There is no water,” “We want to go back to Egypt,” “We miss all the free fish, leeks and onions,” and “We detest this manna.” Moses cannot escape the people’s whining; everywhere he turns someone is in his face with another complaint. Moses may have been gifted to the task, called and even had the ear of God, but he was only human and here is a moment when he lifts his hands in defeat and tells God that things have got to change—“Either change the situation or take me out of it!”

God doesn’t rebuke Moses; He knows exactly how Moses feels and what He needs. God tells Moses that He will take some of the Spirit He has given to Moses and give it to seventy other leaders among the people to share the load of leadership. No wonder Moses was exhausted—he had been trying to do the job of seventy!

As to the people’s whining, God has a different solution. He is going to provide the people with so much meat—for an entire month—they are literally going to gag on it. But in Moses’ exhausted state, in this moment when he is feeling utterly defeated, even this great leader doubts God’s ability to put an end to the people’s grumbling. God’s response comes in the form of a question, “Has my arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!” (Numbers 11:23).

Haven’t we all been there? We are trying to faithfully serve God, but we keep running into barriers. It might be others’ attitudes or too much work, such as what Moses faced. Or maybe it’s a lengthy struggle with poor finances, poor health, loss of relationship. Many things can bring God’s children to the point of exhaustion as we attempt to live purposely for Him. He knows what we’re going through and what we need. In our exhaustion, we may find ourselves expressing doubt that God can or will solve a problem too big for us, but remember God’s response, “Has my arm lost its power?” Of course not! So sit back child, “Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!” Remember…God’s power is made perfect in our weakness! We may be called, but we are not in this alone.
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~ Pastor Jane