Crying, “help!” - Moses

The LORD said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel. . . . I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.”

Numbers 11:16-17

“I’ve just hit a wall!” complained the overworked and burned-out accountant as April 15th approached. The man, with a wife and three young children at home, had put in twelve- to sixteen-hour days for many weeks and had reached the point where he just couldn’t work one more hour of overtime.

Do you know the feeling? If you’ve ever hit a point of burnout, you know the unsettling feeling of losing enthusiasm for work that once meant so much to you or of wanting more than anything to go on vacation and never return.

Moses once reached the point of burnout. He had enjoyed incredible fellowship with God, had felt encouraged and challenged by the Lord, and had received good assistance from Aaron and others. But after so brilliantly leading, providing for, and listening to the fickle people of Israel, Moses had no more to give. Moses honestly complained to God, “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).

Moses had lost the joy of serving simply because he had too much to do and not enough help to get it done. Thankfully, God sent help his way.

When you allow others to help you bear your burdens, you receive great blessings for yourself and for those who help you. You know what that takes, though, don’t you? You have to humbly admit your need and stand ready to accept whatever help others can give you.

Think of the last time you felt burned out—overwhelmed with family, over your head at work, fed up with life. Whom did God place in your life to give you the help you needed? Allow your brothers to share your burdens so that you can keep moving forward in the race God has assigned to you.