A Butcher’s Shop In The Middle Of A Desert

TO READ: Numbers 11:10-23

I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy!

Numbers 11:14

Moses had a terrible sense of isolation born of desperation. He felt that he was carrying the burden of the whole world on his shoulders. His ministry had become a punishment instead of a privilege.

“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?” he asked the Lord (Numbers 11:11). Moses was angry. “It isn’t fair!” he raged. “Why should I have to take this? I don’t need it!” Moses felt isolated from God and also from his people. “They are so unreasonable! Why, they expect me to find them a butcher’s shop in the middle of the desert!” Moses almost became irrational with the weight of it all. “If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!” he cried (Numbers 11:15).

God answered Moses’ complaint. He didn’t baby Moses, defend himself, or let his servant off the hook. He simply gave Moses the solution to his problem. He advised him to delegate his responsibility, pointing out that there were plenty of good men around who could be trusted to share his heavy charge with him. He told Moses to choose leaders who had proved themselves and to set them apart for the ministry (Numbers 11:16-17). God promised that he would give them the same spirit of power and enabling that he had given to Moses himself.

Delegation is one answer to effective ministry. A shared ministry results in shared blessings.