Sometimes it’s just never enough. We want more money, a better home, bigger car, better job, a different job. Someone gives you a car and you wish it were red instead of green. So it was with the Israelites as they wandered in the dessert, nothing was ever enough. It was here in Numbers 11 that I began reading this morning. Let’s start in verse 10; Moses heard all the people complaining as they stood around in groups at the entrances of their tents. He was distressed because the Lord had become angry with them, ¹¹ and he said to the Lord, “Why have you treated me so badly? Why are you displeased with me? Why have you given me the responsibility for all these people?¹² I didn’t create them or bring them to birth! Why should you ask me to act like a nurse and carry them in my arms like babies all the way to the land you promised to their ancestors? ¹³ Where could I get enough meat for all these people? They keep whining and asking for meat. ¹⁴ I can’t be responsible for all these people by myself; it’s too much for me! ¹⁵ If you are going to treat me like this, have pity on me and kill me, so that I won’t have to endure your cruelty any longer.”

Whining had become contagious, even Moses caught it. I’m sure every pastor in the world has felt this way at one time or another. Seriously! He had had enough! What happened next surprised me a bit. Perhaps I was so engaged in how the Lord went from raining down manna to raining down quail for a month that I overlooked his provision to Moses. Verses 16 & 17; The Lord said to Moses, “Assemble seventy respected men who are recognized as leaders of the people, bring them to me at the Tent of my presence, and tell them to stand there beside you. ¹⁷ I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the spirit I have given you and give it to them. Then they can help you bear the responsibility for these people, and you will not have to bear it alone.” Then verses 24 & 25; So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He assembled seventy of the leaders and placed them around the Tent. ²⁵ Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him. He took some of the spirit he had given to Moses and gave it to the seventy leaders. When the spirit came on them, they began to shout like prophets, but not for long.

And we thought the day of Pentecost was the first Gods Spirit was poured out, look at that. When the Spirit came on them, they began to shout like prophets. Why? Because when the Spirit of God comes on you it is just too powerful to remain silent. So instead of just Moses being in charge of 600,000 people, God set up 70 men, filled with the Spirit of God to help Moses. I’m sure these men thought they’d experienced everything, but that single experience of the power and presence of God coming out of them was an unforgettable experience.

That’s what happens to us when we ask for the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, he gives us boldness to be his witnesses, to prophesy, to lay hands on the sick expecting results. So many of us have never tapped into that power. So many of us have just been content to feel the goosebumps and feel the presence of the Lord. We dabble but that’s as far as we allow the experience to go. We keep it for us instead of doing what it was meant for, be witnesses. We were made for this. To be filled with the wisdom of God, to be His mouthpiece, hands and feet to take the power of God with us to the world.

When we whine, it angers God. When we praise, it makes him smile. I don’t want to make him angry. I don’t want to eat quail until it comes out my ears and I get so sick of it I choke. The chapter ends like this: While there was still plenty of meat for them to eat, the Lord became angry with the people and caused an epidemic to break out among them. That place was named Kibroth Hattaavah (which means “Graves of Craving”), because there they buried the people who had craved meat.

When we become dissatisfied with Gods provision, it invites things into our lives that we don’t want anywhere near us. I’m not saying that at times, the enemy tries to discourage us, I’m saying that we need to watch our attitude and our words. In the middle of what we’re going through, break out in praise for what He’s done for you in the past. Thank Him for blessing you, providing food to eat and a place to sleep. Remind Him of His unfailing love, deep tender mercy and grace, yes grace; unmerited, undeserved favor on your life. He’s just simply been too good to you for you to focus on your losses. I will end with verse 23; “Is there a limit to my power?” the Lord answered. “You will soon see whether what I have said will happen or not!” God always keeps His Word!