Christianity Oasis Forum

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FRIDAY JULY 10


HELP FOR A HEAVY LOAD

READ:
NUMBERS 11:17
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[The men] shall
bear the burden
of the people with
you, that you my
not bear it yourself
alone.
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It's amazing what you can haul with a bicycle. An average adult with a specialized trailer (and a bit of determination) can use a bicycle to tow up to 300 pounds at 10 mph. There's just one problem: Hauling a heavier load means moving more slowly. A person hauling 600 pounds of work equipment or personal possessions would only be able to move at a pace of 8 miles in one hour.

Moses carried another kind of weight in the wilderness__an emotional weight that kept him at a standstill. The Israelites' intense craving for meat instead of manna had reduced them to tears. Hearing their ongoing lament, an exasperated Moses said to God, "I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me" (NUM. 11:12).

On his own, Moses lacked the resources necessary to fix the problem. God responded by telling him to select 70 men to stand with him and share his load. God told Moses, "[The men] shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone" (v.17).

As followers of Jesus, we don't have to handle our burdens alone either. We have Jesus himself, who is always willing and able to help us. And He has given us brothers and sisters in Christ to share the load. When we give Him the things that weigh us down, He gives us wisdom and support in return. __Jennifer Benson Schuldt

**who has come alongside you? Have you thanked them?
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God's help is only a prayer away.

**********************************Today's Bible Reading __ Numbers 11:12-17***************************
4 Now the mixed multitude who were among them
yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also
wept again and said: "Who will give us meat to eat?

5 We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the
cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;

6 but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all
except this manna before our eyes!"

10 Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their
families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of
the LORD was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. 11 So
Moses said to the LORD, "Why have You afflicted Your servant?
And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have
laid the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all
these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me,
'Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing
child,' to the land which You swore to their fathers? 13 Where
am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all
over me, saying, 'Give us meat, that we may eat.' 14 I am not
able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too
heavy for me. 15 If You treat me like this, please kill me here
and now_if I have found favor in Your sight__and do not let
me see my wretchedness!"

16 So the LORD said to Moses: "Gather to Me seventy men of
the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the
people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle
of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 Then I will
come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit
that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they
shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not
bear it yourself alone."