Numbers 11:14-15 I can’t do this by myself—it’s too much, all these people. If this is how you intend to treat me, do me a favour and kill me. I’ve seen enough; I’ve had enough. Let me out of here.”

The Israelites weren’t an easy nation. Now they were acting like spoilt brats. They longed for a braai with meat and for the fleshpots of Egypt, forgetting why they were saved from it.

It was no longer a single complaint here and there, but people coming together in groups around the tents. The complaints spread among the people and soon all the Israelites started grumbling. Just human, like all of us.

Moses didn’t take it well. He took it out on God. He told God flat out that these people weren’t his children. He had no intention of babysitting them. That wasn’t what he had been called for. He couldn’t face their whining about food. The leadership became a heavy burden.

Yes, sometimes one romanticises the great characters of the Bible. Moses was a true man of God through whom the Lord worked wonderfully. He performed miracles. Built a road through the sea, made water flow from a rock and many more.

And yet here it simply became too much for him. The man who stood before God on Mount Sinai broke. He was also only human, just like us. There comes a point in every person’s life when things just become too much.

There also come times in our lives when we can’t take it anymore. Times when what happens around us and is often not even our fault, just becomes too much and we break. It’s part of our earthly existence as ordinary people who try to live God’s will every day.

But then we must do as Moses did. We must go to God and tell everything. He understands and He will do something. God sent quails for the people to roast and appointed 70 more elders to help manage the people, so that Moses didn’t have to carry the whole burden on his shoulders.

That’s why we have to turn to God when things get too much. He will help us to make the burden lighter. We must just believe it with all our hearts.

Prayer
Father, thank you for listening. That’s why I’m here now to tell you everything …

Questions
What am I currently carrying alone that is actually too heavy for me?
When was the last time I honestly unpacked everything before God without holding back?
Do I try to handle everything myself, or do I allow God and other people to help me?

Do this now
Today, write down everything that is weighing you down, each thing, one by one, without filtering it.
Take that list and pray it out loud. Give each item to God intentionally.
Share one thing you are struggling with with someone you trust and let them carry it with you.