PROVISION
Numbers 11:4–17
Have you ever noticed how the longer people have something, the more they begin to take it for granted? It applies to almost everything in our lives — relationships, income, material things, food, clothing and the list goes on.
No matter what we may have or how good it is, at some point the luster begins to fade. We begin to focus on what we don’t have instead of on what we do have.
Dissatisfied Followers (4–9)
The “riffraff” in verse 4 refers to the mixed multitude (non-Israelites) who journeyed with Israel from Egypt. (See Ex. 12:38.) Their cravings stirred up widespread complaints among the Israelites.
The people quickly forgot the bondage of Egypt and began focusing on the foods they missed — meat, fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. You cannot walk forward while always looking back. Sooner or later, you will stumble and fall.
They described the manna provided in Exodus 16 — God’s miraculous provision — with disdain: “nothing to look at but this manna.” Despite its miraculous nature, the people had grown tired of God’s provision, choosing to focus on what they lacked. This reflected a heart of ingratitude.
There are dangers to ingratitude. When our hearts grow cold, miracles can feel mundane. We easily despise God’s provision when we crave worldly indulgences.
Frustrated Leader (10–15)
God took issue with their complaints and became very angry. Moses, overwhelmed by their constant wailing, appealed to the Lord for help in dealing with the problem. His earnestness was so severe that he asked God to kill him if He was not going to help.
Moses hit an emotional and spiritual breaking point. He felt personally burdened by the people’s complaints and was crushed under the weight of leadership.
His rhetorical questions show a prophet’s lament — raw, honest and desperate. Moses’ words mirror other prophetic laments (Elijah in 1 Kings 19:4, Jeremiah in Jer. 20:7–18), showing that even godly leaders face intense burnout at times.
Occasionally, it can be a lonely place being a spiritual leader. You get all the complaints. You are expected to come up with all the answers. You are the one who has to provide the solution to every problem. But God doesn’t expect us to go it alone.
That is why we need the fellowship of one another. The word for “fellowship” in the Greek is “koinonia,” which means “to have in common” or “to share.”
Gracious Provision (16–17)
God responds not with rebuke but with relief. He commands Moses to gather 70 elders — wise, respected leaders — to share the load. God’s response reminds us that even the most faithful leaders need community and help.
God told Moses that He would provide the same Holy Spirit that was upon Moses to rest upon the 70 elders as well.
God’s Spirit is not diminished when shared; rather, His power is multiplied when shared across faithful leaders. It is a force multiplier.
Jesus shared this same concept with His disciples when He spoke to them about doing greater works than He in John 14:12.
By Darrell Nimmo
Retired Baptist pastor living in Goodlettsville, Tennessee
