Tag: bear the burden

46.r. “Wilderness” – 10.x. “So that you may not bear it yourself alone”

 

Num 11:16  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.

 Moses was not to pick men whom he thought might become elders; he was to pick men who were already known as elders because of their wisdom, conduct, and ministry to others. Elders are made by God but recognized by men. The elders must have the same heart, the same vision, and same Spirit that was on Moses. If not, there would be no agreement among the leadership of the nation and disaster could come to Israel. (Guzik)

We do not have to look very deep into our memories to find a time when we were overburdened by something or someone. The thoughts that come to mind during these times are varied but one thing is for sure, they are felt, they hurt, and they may feel justified. It may seem as if there is no way to get on the other side of this burden. It looks so big and overwhelming that it blocks out all hope of life becoming better. I don’t know how to describe it any better but surely you can relate to it. In these overwhelming burdens, there is no rest except for what is found in trust and reliance on Jesus Christ. Resting in Him is the only rest that can satisfy your soul. He is the all-powerful, ever-present, and all-knowing creator of all there is. Nothing is hidden from Him. He knows all of your burdens and says, “Cast your burdens upon Me” and I will give you rest for your soul.

2. “What you are doing is not good.”

Exodus 18:13    The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves.

Time is a big consumer.  It can consume our lives for good things.  Note Moses gave time for a good thing – “settling disputes” and he “made known the statutes and laws of God”. These are good things to be doing but not all alone.  There are others to help.   How we spend time on good things is a choice.   It is always a balancing act and there does not seem to be an answer unless we look at it from the perspective of “What are God’s plans and purpose for us”.

If good things of this life pull you from living fully for God or give you excuse to not engage fully for Him, those good things may not be good for you.

There must be a balance.  How does one balance God, work, family?  Is it possible?  Yes, it is.  Placing God first in all you do puts life this side of eternity into perspective.  With God first, we find certain good things in this life are just not as good as others.  With God first and His word in our heart, we can learn to say NO to good things of this world and more YES to the one to come.  Placing God first will lead you down paths of wisdom in determining what is meaningful good things and what is not.

All I can tell you is that when God is your desire good things of this world do not give satisfaction to your soul like the good things He leads you to do.