We
aren’t even on the same level as God.
Any
Christian learns this- even Moses.
Israel
was complaining again on its way to Canaan (before it rebelled and wandered for
40 years), this time about food, again. As a Baptist, I can completely
understand why they were concerned about being properly fed. But when God is
directly providing, why were they worried? (And why are we?) They were sick of
manna and wanted flesh to eat. They complained to Moses, who then complained to
God about their complaining.
God
basically told him, “Fine, if you really want flesh, I’ll give it to you not
for a few days or a week, but a month, until it’s COMING OUT YOUR NOSE and you
loathe it.” (Read Numbers 11.) It’s almost comical, except that those who
complained, saying they were better off before God’s redemption from Egypt were
later killed. But after this is where it gets good.
“And
Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and
thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. Shall
the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the
fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?” (Num.
11:21-22)
According
to the census at the beginning of the book, there were a little over 600,000
men of fighting age (20+), plus women and children. Moses is saying, “We’re
looking at millions of people here, God. How can you feed us meat? Kill our
flocks? Get all the fish from the sea?”
God’s
response is classic and a lesson to all of us.
“And
the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now
whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.” (Num. 11:23)
We
like to try and rationalize God, to bring Him on our level to understand Him
better. But what Moses failed to remember is that they were already getting a
mysterious dough from the sky every morning. They had already been led out of
Egypt with ten plagues and the drowning of Pharaoh’s army. They were being led
by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. What could God not do? He had
already proved Himself.
It
is this statement, “Is the LORD’S hand waxed short?” that helps refute atheism.
The atheist will claim that miracles cannot happen, that a virgin birth is not
possible, and that the origin of God cannot be explained. I respond, “Is the
LORD’S hand waxed short?” If God had an origin, He would not be God. He IS “the
beginning and the end”. I challenge the atheist to explain the origin of the
particle that started the Big Bang. I challenge them to explain how life arose
from hydrogen and helium in stars. They can’t do it. It isn’t possible.
I
could go on, but we all must look impartially at the evidence before us. The
atheist will claim the idea of God does not make sense- how can someone always
be there? I agree, it does not make sense to our human minds. But in the words
of Arthur Conan Doyle, “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no
matter how improbable, must be the truth.” Since we know matter and energy
cannot derive from nothing, something microscopic cannot create an unfathomably
large universe, and life cannot come from non-life, then the explanation must be
that there is something not just more powerful, but all-powerful, that created
the universe- that created US.
This
is a great comfort to the Christian. This chapter certainly shows us God’s
wrath, but it is wrath against disobedience. Living in obedience allows us to
tap into His power. Submitting to a God we know exists and allowing Him to
empower us is so much more liberating than denying His existence so that we can
be our own gods (Humanism, whether one likes the term or not). Because Jesus,
God in the flesh, said “All power is given unto me…” Never doubt God’s power or
capabilities in your life or on your life. Remember what He told Moses: “Is the
LORD’S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass
unto thee or not.” And guess what He did? He did exactly what He told Moses He
would do, and in a miraculous way. Just as He always has, does, and will
continue to do.
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