Numbers 11 & 12: The Challenge of Moses

The Israelites up to this point in the story are not exactly loving the journey God has brought them on. This of course is starting to boil up a bit in the Israelite camp as 600,000 angry Jews are starting to really dislike being hot all the time and eating manna. This starts to manifest itself when they start to demand some sort of meat to eat in Chapter 11. This of course runs much deeper than just being hungry for meat as the Israelites are really reflecting back to the their needs being met in Egypt.

Simultaneously Moses is growing tired of his burden as he reaches once more out to God for Him to supply some meat for His people. He even asks God to relive him of his burden going so far as to say "I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me." in verse 14. God sees the worn out Moses and allows several Elders to be raised up out of the camp to assist him. Together they bring meat to their people but God is unhappy with their gluttonous eating of the meat so he casts a famine over their midst. 

The rebellion towards Moses continues in Numbers 12 as Aaron and Miriam challenge Moses. God deals accordingly by pointing out His direct connection with Moses and how He is highest servant. God hands down the punishment of leprosy to Miriam. What is most interesting to me is the underlying jealousy we see creep into the heart of Aaron in this situation. Then almost in complete contradiction it is written in verse 3 "Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth." 

That is so challenging to me as I tend to get so big headed when handed leadership in my life and here is Moses who is humble and meek in his dealings with these troubles. He even pleads with God “O God, please heal her—please.” after Aaron begs Moses for forgiveness. Moses is so quick to forgive and to give into anger. This is a beautiful foreshadowing of Christ and his meek yet earth shattering behavior to come.