GOD!! What a Bunch of Whiners!!

From the annual reading program (I'm a bit behind):

10Moses heard the people of every family wailing, each at the entrance to his
tent. The LORD became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 11 He asked the
LORD ,
"Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done
to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12 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? 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep
wailing to me, 'Give us meat to eat!' 14 I cannot carry all these people by
myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 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." - Numbers 11:10-15

Yeah Brother Moses, I hear ya!! I could just hear Moses making a nasally impression to the Lord of the whiners saying “Ohhh, Give us meaaattt to eaaattt. This manna stuff bloowws.” “Ye God!!! Please. Just kill me before I kill them. I can’t take these little babies and their incessant whining anymore! Jeeez!” says Moses to the Lord. Ever felt like that? Man, have I as a gov’mint manager!! The Bible is an onion with infinite layers. I never thoroughly read Numbers before because the accounting side of it always had me dozing off, but this was a real gem.

It actually had me laughing out loud when in the verses that followed, the Lord basically agrees with Moses, to paraphrase: “You’re right my faithful servant! They ARE a bunch of unfaithful whiners! I will relieve your burdens by delegating part of your duties and My Spirit on seventy others. Wished they had stayed in Egypt and dined on meat in slavery rather than accept My liberation? Fine. Meat they want, then meat they shall have until it makes them sick and DIE!” Here’s the actual text:

16 The LORD said to Moses: "Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to
you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of
Meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with
you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on
them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not
have to carry it alone.
18 "Tell the people: 'Consecrate
yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The LORD heard
you when you wailed, "If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!"
Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat it. 19 You will not eat it for
just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, 20 but for a whole
month-until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it-because you have
rejected the LORD , who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, "Why
did we ever leave Egypt?" ' " – Numbers 11:16-20

Our “heroes” meet their destiny with:

31 Now a wind went out from the LORD and drove quail in from the sea. It brought
them down all around the camp to about three feet above the ground, as far as a
day's walk in any direction. 32 All that day and night and all the next day the
people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers. Then
they spread them out all around the camp. 33 But while the meat was still
between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD
burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. 34 Therefore
the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who
had craved other food. – Numbers 11:31-34

Whew! Patience is a virtue as my mother used to tell me. Instilling discipline on an unruly mob is hard work. I have to hand it to us sometimes, we can really push the Lord’s buttons sometimes. Thank You Jesus for taking the burden of us. I’m not sure the Father would have put up with all we dish out for too much longer!