Resources seem Inadequate

‘WHY?’ QUESTIONS No.8

Num 11:13 Where can I get meat for all these people?

In economics, the ‘economic problem’ is often expressed as ‘how to use our limited resources’. For most people that is the ongoing problem of life, how can I get by with limited resources? Living in the most affluent period of history yet, we no longer worry about needs, but more about wants. The accepted standard of living in the West in the twenty-first century is dramatically higher than anywhere else in the world or anywhere in previous history. Yet we still worry. How can I provide for my family is still a concern of many parents. The welfare state buffers us from starvation, yet there is still the need to stretch the limited resources. It is a common problem for the human race. Spiritual leaders find it a spiritual problem as well, for a Christian congregation is a naturally hungry people and leaders have to find the resources from the Lord to ‘feed’ the people otherwise their spiritual experience will be one of spiritual poverty rather than spiritual blessing. But is also applies to us as individuals. We go through a time when we begin to feel spiritually ‘dry’ or spiritually ‘barren’ and we realise we are not taking in, and the Christian life loses its zest and becomes ordinary, boring, humdrum and lifeless. We need ‘feeding’ we realise. Where can I get ‘spiritual food’?

For Moses the problem is again not one of need but wants. The people are in the desert being led by God and the Lord has provided manna for them. It is clearly a miraculous provision. It appears every morning for six days each week. They can collect sufficient for the next twenty four hours. If they collect more it goes off. Except on the sixth day when they can collect two day’s worth because on the Sabbath the Lord was not providing it – but this time every week, the extra amount did not go off! This happened week in, week out. It was a supernatural provision. It met their needs, but ‘needs’ didn’t seem enough. The people cried out for something more. They wanted meat. We read, “The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost–also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” (Num 11:4-6). Now what is bad about this is that this is history repeating itself. On the journey from Egypt to Sinai the Lord had provided the manna and quail (see Ex 16) after the people had grumbled, but at least that had been the early days of their experiences with the Lord. We are now a year later (see Num 10:11 ) and they have experienced the Lord at Sinai. They are now three days travel from Sinai towards the Promised Land (see Num 10:33) when they start grumbling again.

It’s important to remember this: they had had experience of the Lord delivering them from Egypt, they had had experience of the Lord providing for them on the journey to Sinai, they had had the incredible experience of the Lord at Sinai, and with all that experience, they should have learnt by now that you don’t have to grumble about God’s provision – He is a provider!!!! God is a provider!!! Simply ask Him! But don’t grumble; that’s an indication of a bad attitude. So a question to be asked here is, when you are asking of the Lord, what is your attitude? Is your asking more of a demanding that is an expression of your grumbling, or is it the childlike request of the little child asking of their Father?

The Lord has already brought discipline on Israel in the form of fire that burnt up the outskirts of the camp. That was simply a gentle warning, but now with this ongoing bad attitude, we read, “The LORD became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled.” (Num 11:10). This people should not be responding like this. The Lord has every reason to be upset, and His upset makes Moses concerned. He can see the Lord wanting to destroy this people again. However his pleas to the Lord have a certain self-concern about them: “He asked the LORD, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? (i.e. me!) What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me ? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers? Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, `Give us meat to eat!’ I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me . If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now–if I have found favor in your eyes–and do not let me face my own ruin.” (Num 11:11-15). However the Lord does not scold him. Perhaps it is a recognition by Moses that he is not the answer to Israel ’s problems, the Lord is. It’s a place every leader has to come to!

What was the Lord’s answer? It was a twofold answer. The first part was to put His spirit on seventy elders to share the load of leadership (Num 11:16,17, 24-30) and the second part was to provide quail in super-abundance (Num 11:18-23, 31-33). Thus the Lord showed He could provide leadership and food to meet their desires.

The lessons here? First, make sure you have a right attitude towards the Lord at all times. Second, realize that as your loving heavenly Father He will provide for all your needs. That may not mean all your wants, but he will always provide for all your needs. Can we remember these things?