Not By Myself - The One Year Praying the Promises of God

[Moses said,] “Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep whining to me, saying, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy!”

Numbers 11:13-14

Have you ever felt all alone in the responsibilities you carry, sensed that the buck stopped with you and there was no one to help carry the load? That those you are trying to help are griping at you and demanding more? If so, then perhaps you can relate in a small way to what Moses was feeling when the children of Israel were weeping and crying out to him. They—not a few families but a few million people—wanted meat and expected Moses to provide it. No wonder he was at the end of his rope! He felt God expected him to carry these grumbling, angry people in his arms the way a mother carries her babies—all the way to the land God had promised them. Moses’ strength was gone. He was done. He couldn’t carry the load anymore or judge the people’s many disputes with one another.

But God, as he always does, had a plan: Moses should gather seventy leaders of the Israelites, for God had decided to put part of his Spirit upon those men. He told Moses, “They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone” (Numbers 11:17).

Just as God understood Moses’ limitations, he knows our breaking points. When we feel alone and burdened by the responsibilities and people we “carry,” he doesn’t want us to throw in the towel but rather to pour out our hearts to him and trust him to provide. There is no limit to his power and to what he can provide! The Lord will never fail or forsake us. Just as his presence went with Moses every day of his life, our faithful God will be with us.

Father, sometimes I forget that I don’t have to carry everything and everyone by myself. Forgive my self-sufficient patterns of behavior, and keep me in your presence.

Lord, help me remember that no matter what happens, nothing is going to happen to me today that you and I cannot handle.

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