the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 1 of 5
Numbers 11:10-23
And here we find Moses discouraged! He blames the LORD for the burden of all this people (v. 11), he who, at the end of the preceding chapter has been speaking triumphantly of "the many thousands of Israel". Of course Moses could not bear the responsibility of this people "alone", but actually he was not alone! The LORD Himself carried Israel "on eagles’ wings" (Exodus 19:4) and as in a father’s arms (Deuteronomy 1:31).
Psalms 106 recalls this sad episode, "They soon forgat his works; they . . . lusted exceedingly in the wilderness . . . And he gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul" (vv. 13-15). Here we find a very serious truth. When we insist on getting our hands on something that God has no intention of giving us, it may happen that He finally allows us to have it but with disastrous consequences. For the people these are described in vv. 19, 20 and 33. The word translated "leanness" literally means a progressive wasting away. For our souls to waste away is surely much worse than an illness. May God keep us from these lusts "which war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11), whilst teaching us to be satisfied with what He gives us . . . and as to what He withholds.
