Moses Falters (1)
Outstanding, But Fallible
(Bible Study - July 1999)
In our consideration of various incidents in which Moses played a part (Tidings, 3/98, 12/98, 2/99, 4/99, 5/99), we have repeatedly had occasion to comment on the nobility of his character: his total selflessness, his forgiving spirit, his strong sense of dedication to the service of his God and of his people. We have taken account especially of the love he extended to his erring brother Aaron. He is so often an example to us of how a servant of God should conduct himself.
Yet while we salute him for his outstanding example, he was human and fallible. There was an occasion when Moses was guilty of misjudgment, and one at the end of his career when he faltered badly and paid the price. Since these episodes are recorded, we are intended to learn from them. As for his misjudgment, we recall the time when he rashly slew an Egyptian who was maltreating a fellow Israelite (Exo. 2:11-12). This did nothing to alleviate the lot of the Israelites, but led to his own precipitous flight to Midian.
The people’s discontent
In reviewing the career of Moses, we would hardly be inclined to associate depression
with him, yet there was a time when he was so utterly discouraged that his faith faltered.
Very rarely is this incident mentioned among us, which is recorded in Numbers 11. The
chapter begins with a presentation of Moses with whom we are familiar. The people are
discontented with their lot in the wilderness and are quite vocal about it. The volume of
discontent and the way it was expressed must have been particularly offensive to the Lord,
for fire consumed some of the disgruntled people. It is then, characteristically, that
Moses intervened: "And the people cried unto Moses; and Moses prayed unto the
LORD and the fire abated" (Num. 11:2 RV as all quotations). The memory of this
unhappy incident was preserved in the name "Taberah" ("burning").
It was not long, however, before discontent again reared its head, led by the "mixed multitude" that accompanied the Israelites on their departure from Egypt (Exo. 12:38). The monotony of the diet provided in the wilderness filled them with nostalgic longing for the more varied fare they had enjoyed in Egypt: cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic (v. 5). The discontent was general and aroused the Lord’s anger (v. 10).
Moses’ depression
Finally, the utter impossibility of satisfying the people he was leading started to
affect Moses, and in his misery he cried aloud: "Wherefore hast thou evil
entreated thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou
layest the burden of all this people upon me?" (v. 11). These are the words and
this is the protestation of a weary man. He had enough, more than enough. So he continued:
he had not been responsible for the birth of the nation, so why should he be made
responsible for carrying it in his bosom to the land promised to the fathers of Israel?
Clearly Moses was in a mood of profound depression and this is what explains his temporary lack of faith for he proceeds: "Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh that we may eat" (v. 13). When we reflect upon what, under God’s hand, had been achieved up to this point, we realize the faith of Moses is not equal to the situation. He had witnessed the succession of plagues which humbled, and finally, broke Pharaoh’s will. He had conducted his people through the waters of the sea. He had seen the Almighty begin and continue to provide manna, "the bread from heaven." The smitten rock had provided water. Moreover, there were other wonders which Moses had witnessed. Why then should he now begin to think the Lord’s hand was shortened? The answer is simple: he was greatly wearied and depressed. As we know so well ourselves, there are times when life seems to be against us.
It was in this condition of profound depression Moses complained to the Lord that he couldn’t do the job single-handed and if matters continued the way they were, he asked to die.
Others sought death
We need to remember Moses was not the only great figure in the Old Testament who
expressed a desire to leave the human scene and seek release in death. Sorely afflicted,
stripped of his possessions and children, smitten with a foul disease in his own person,
Job was inexpressibly miserable. Would that he had never been born to experience such
misery: "Why died I not from the womb?" (Job 3:11). Then there was the
case of Elijah. At one time he was on top of the world as he ridiculed the senseless
idolatry of the votaries of Baal (I Kings 18:27). Pursued by the vicious Jezebel, however,
and frustrated by her unrelenting hatred of the God of Israel, he fell into depression and
longed for death: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not
better than my fathers" (I Kings 19:4). We need to think also of Jeremiah:
soundly beaten by Pashur and humiliated by being confined to the stocks and made a public
exhibit in Jerusalem, he gave vent to his misery: "Cursed be the day wherein I
was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed..." Like Job he
wished that his mother’s womb had also been his grave (Jer. 20:14, 17). Jeremiah goes
so far as to curse the very man who conveyed to his father the glad news that his wife had
borne him a son (v. 15).
God offers relief
In all these cases we have expressions of great human misery. Yet we withhold any
criticism for we are well aware that our own self pity would have found expression at an
earlier stage than was the case in the examples we have quoted. If we are sympathetic, how
much more is our God who, as a father, pities His children? (Psa. 103:13). Indeed, we have
the supreme reassurance which Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "Therefore hath no
temptation taken you but such as man can bear; but God is faithful, who will not suffer
you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way
of escape, that ye may be able to endure it" (I Cor. 10:13).
True to His promise, the Lord immediately provided relief: Moses is instructed to choose 70 men from the ranks of the elders of Israel (Num. 11:16), to assist him in his work. They are to appear before the Lord with Moses whereupon He would take of the spirit upon Moses and give it to the 70. Thus the load of responsibility would be shared (v. 17). And God does even more. If Moses confessed his inability to provide flesh for the nation (v. 13), then God was able to and the Lord sent vast quantities of quail all around the encampment. But the querulous mood of discontentment among the people angered the Lord and a very great plague broke out amongst them (v. 33).
Moses and Christ
Yes, unquestionably Moses faltered, thus revealing his humanity. It seems fitting
before concluding this study to remind ourselves that however trying the circumstances,
the Lord Jesus did not falter -- he was equal to all temptations. We refer particularly to
the feeding of the 5,000. The incident reveals the infinite compassion of the Lord. He and
the 12 were at a point of exhaustion and he wanted to get away from the multitudes, but
such was his popularity they gave him no rest and pursued the Lord to a place they sought
out for a brief time of respite (see Matt. 14:13). The natural human reaction would be one
of irritation and impatience, but not so in the case of our Lord -- he had compassion on
the anxious people and healed the sick among them (v. 14).
As the day drew on, the apostles suggested the multitude be dismissed in order to go to the neighboring villages to find food. Much to their amazement the Lord tells them to supply the multitude with food. The apostles’ reaction reminds us of that of Moses: how can adequate supplies be found for so large a company in a desert place? Let us take particular note of what the Lord does; he looks up to heaven. This action is recorded in three of the accounts, which, in itself, is an indication of its importance (Matt. 14:19; Mark 6:41; Luke 9:16). How meaningful is this apparently simple gesture! Yet it is eloquent; for by it our Lord recognizes that though human resources may be quite limited, yet those of his Father are infinite. So it was that the multitude was fed, with much food to spare (v. 20).
Look to heaven
Thus, in the trying circumstances of life, should we feel helpless, discouraged or
downcast, we can learn from the lesson of Moses. Though he faltered, he was given much
help from God. And preeminently, we can recall the example of our beloved Lord who, in his
times of need, looked up to heaven.
Tom Barling