February 28th, 2012

SCRIPTURE
Numbers 11:21-23
But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?” The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”

OBSERVATION
This occurs while Moses and the Israelites are wandering in the desert.  They have been eating nothing but manna and are getting pretty tired of it...they begin to moan and whine to Moses about wanting meat.  He is frustrated about having to shepherd all these people and is tired of the whining.  Moses turns to God and asks him to help - God says, sure, but rest assured, I will give them more meat than they bargained for...and Moses starts to question God on that, scoffing at the idea.  So God chimes in and says, "is my arm too short?", saying "do you really think I cannot accomplish this??".

APPLICATION
This passage gets me thinking about all the times in scripture people question God's ability to follow through on His promises.  I think of this passage, then of Abraham and Sarah, and her laughter at getting pregnant, then I think of all the times I question God's ability to do what seems to be impossible.  It's so easy think of God in terms of our physical realm and the scientific parameters we know, and to disregard the fact that He is outside these restraints.  He truly can do ANYTHING, and we need to train ourselves to not restrict God in this way. 

PRAYER
Father, when I think of you, help me to not hold you to the restrictions of the world.  You surpass the world, you created the world, and I need to recognize your power and might.  You can do all things, even things I could never imagine.  Let me not question your promise, remind me of all that you have done and how faithful you are to your word, and remind me of my place.  Teach me humility and awe for your power and grace.  In the name of your Son, who came to earth as a man born of a virgin, to die for our sins.  Amen.

More info on the book of Numbers:  http://www.biblica.com/niv/study-bible/numbers/