Is My Arm Too Short?

Posted on by Stephen Estock

January 20, 2014

It was a Monday, and it was one of those days. There were no big issues over the weekend, yet for some reason, Monday was filled with an overwhelming sense of inadequacy:

  • How will I get everything done?
  • I have no idea what I am doing.
  • I know I will mess things up, and all these people will hate me.

Ever been there?

Consider Moses in Numbers 11:1-23.

Israel was in the wilderness, and there was a small group of “rabble,” who stirred the people against Moses. They had a craving for meat, so they convinced the crowd that slavery in Egypt was not all that bad – back then, they had meat.

The people were whining, the Lord was angry, and Moses was upset. He complained to God, “Why have you treated me like this? Did I conceive all these people? Why do I have to take care of them? I can’t do this anymore! Kill me now.”

God tells Moses to find 70 elders, who will help shoulder the burden of caring for the people. He also promises meat – not just for one day, or two, or five, or ten, or twenty days, but a whole month.

Moses, still wallowing in self-centeredness, responds, “There are 600,000 people out there, and you promise meat! How is that going to happen?! There are not enough flocks, herds, or fish for them!”

God replied, “Is the LORD’s hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not” (v. 23).

And he provided. The people ate meat until they were sick of it.

The murmuring that flows out of a sense of inadequacy is really nothing more than a verdict on God: “The Lord’s hand is too short. He can’t provide what I need. He can’t deliver me through the situation at hand.”

Moses words were filled with a lot of “me.” God was directing Moses’ attention back to the One who had delivered them, and cared for them, and was always able and willing to bless.

The murmuring of Monday needs to be swallowed by the celebration of Sunday. God is faithful. He has given rest to his people. He is not in the tomb. He lives to bless his people. The Lord’s arm is not too short. He will always give what is best.