“The load is far too heavy…”
Have you ever had a “too much” full circle moment?
You dropped to your knees or threw yourself prostrate on the floor every chance you got and cried out to God to turn your situation around. Then, one day, things changed. You witnessed God bringing things full circle, and your heart was filled with overflowing gratitude until the full circle moment became more than you could handle.
The once-barren business that unexpectedly began to thrive, from an empty womb to a bustling home filled with the sound of little feet, the miserable situation that transformed into a multitude of possibilities.
Moses had one such experience. He went from being a prince of Egypt to an outlaw to a shepherd to the deliverer of His people out of bondage. On the other side of slavery, the scraggly band of 2 million plus former slaves and their livestock found themselves wandering in the wilderness and hangry.
Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent…Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?… Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. (Numbers 11:10b, 11, 13-14, ESV)
When the full circle happens and it is too heavy of a burden to bear, we can grumble and whine, sinking us in a sea of overwhelm, or we can follow in Moses’ footsteps.
Complain
We are encouraged to do everything without grumbling or arguing, and we are also encouraged not to worry, but to bring everything to God. (Philippians 2:14-15, 4:6-7).
Moses models a prayerful complaint.
“And Moses said to the Lord, “Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people? Did I give birth to them? Did I bring them into the world? Why did you tell me to carry them in my arms like a mother carries a nursing baby? How can I carry them to the land you swore to give their ancestors? Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep whining to me, saying, ‘Give us meat to eat!’” (Numbers 11:11-12, NLT)
With complete honesty, Moses went straight to God with his frustration. When things become overwhelming, we should be careful about whom we confide in. Seeking wisdom and counsel is valuable, but ultimately, we should take our complaints directly to God and share all the details.
Confess
Moses’ honesty covered more than his complaints. He also confessed his limitations.
“I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy!” (Numbers 11:14, NLT)
Confession is telling the truth about any thought or action that does not align with who God is or what He says. Confessing our limitations opens us up to be honest about our fears. Once we are honest with God about our frustrations and limitations, we make space to co-labor with God.
Co-Labor
God had invited Moses into a monumental mission. Moses had confronted Pharoh through the ten plagues, organized 2 million plus Hebrews along with all their livestock and possessions, led them out of Egypt, experienced the parting of the red sea, gave them the law, and instituted feast, festivals, and worship protocols.
Moses’ accomplishments would overpower any CEO’s resume, but he is human too, and he hit his limit. God heard his prayer and instructed Moses to gather seventy of the elders.
“I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.” (Numbers 11:17, NLT)
From the creation of Eve, God has not intended for us to go it alone. God had already given Moses Aaron, but now He provided a further sharing of the load.
“For we are co-workers in God’s service,” working together with Him and alongside other believers to achieve His mission. (1 Corinthians 3:9)
When we reach a point where our burdens feel overwhelming, we can drop to our knees in complete honesty and share our heavy loads with God. As we do this, our hearts and minds will open to new possibilities, and we will continue to work alongside Him in the mission He has set for us. It’s likely that we will also involve others in this journey.
Full Circle | Moses to Jesus
Moses’s journey is another reflection of how God works in our lives, bringing us full circle through challenges and ultimately leading us to the life we are intended to have. Like Joseph, Moses’s story also illustrates God’s incredible redemptive plan for humanity, culminating in the gift of His Son, Jesus.
- Moses led the Israelites out of slavery and to the promised land. Jesus leads us out of our slavery to sin into an abundant life on earth and eternal life in heaven.
- Moses parted the water. Jesus walked on water.
- Moses gave the law to the people. Jesus fulfilled the law.
- Moses is seen as Israel’s greatest prophet and deliverer, yet he could not complete his mission of leading them into the promised land. Jesus is the Messiah and The Deliverer who can do things beyond our imagination.
Moses’s story reminds us that no matter what our journey brings us, God is faithful in completing the good work He has begun in us. Our full circle moment will come to fruition.
I pray that you can stop and rejoice in how far God has brought you. May God give you the patience and grace to continue as you make your request known to Him, confess your weaknesses, and rely on God to carry the load. So be it, in Jesus’ name.
Meditate: I give my heavy load to You, Jesus.
Reflect: What parts of your journey feel “too much”? How can you be more honest with God about how you feel, your fears, and all the pieces that are weighing you down? How might God want to invite others to join you on your journey and walk alongside you?
Deeper: (As you read through these additional verses, ask the Spirit to give you wisdom, and teach you more about how He intends to provide for you along the way. Scripture: Numbers 11:10-35; I Corinthians 3: 5-10; Psalm 86:1-12
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(Bible References: NLT – New Living Translation)
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