DON’T GET BURNT

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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Can you imagine becoming so comfortable with miracles, signs, and wonders from God that you would eventually complain to the Lord and ask him to mix up his constant care and presence because you were getting a little bored?

Well, that is exactly what happened to the people of the Exodus as they experienced the constant presence of the Lord. 

As a reminder, they had witnessed miracle after miracle, and lived in the daily presence of the Lord as seen in the pillar of fire and cloud. Added to all the amazing actions of God seen in the Exodus and the giving of the law, the people were literally given food by God six out of seven days in the week. 

With all of these physical proofs of the loving care, power, and leadership of Yahweh, it would stand to reason that the people of the Exodus should have nothing to complain about. They were being led into a new and glorious land by the very hand of God. 

Complaints

But, they complained anyway. In fact, they seemed to complain a lot. And not only did they demonstrate that they had become weary of God’s physical presence and provision, they dared to suggest that perhaps they would have all been better off without God’s deliverance from slavery. 

Listen to the complaint of these fortunate people:

7 The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. 8 The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a hand mill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into loaves. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. 9 When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down. (Numbers 11:7-9 NIV11)

Manna 

The Lord provided the people with miracle bread. This gift from God satisfied all of their nutritional needs and allowed them to live in the wilderness without having to scavenge or trade with their enemies. 

Some of this miracle bread was gathered and placed into a jar and then that was placed inside the Ark of the Covenant. It was some pretty amazing stuff. 

10 Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The LORD became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 11 He asked the LORD, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me —if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

Moses Lost It

Woah. The people became so complacent toward the miracles of the Lord that they all gathered together to complained to and about God. They were tired of the miracle bread and wanted God to give them meat like they had back in Egypt. 

The people complained loudly and Moses lost it. Moses’ response to the immaturity of the people was over the top. Instead of teaching the people to be content and reminding them of their bigger purpose, he had an emotional outburst.

Burnout

Moses had been carrying the load of leadership on his own for too long. His reaction to a complaint was that he wished the Lord would just kill him rather than make him deal with these people one more day. 

That is a man who was burnt. He needed just as much help as the immature complainers. 

And so the Lord did for Moses what Moses was unwilling to do for himself. The Lord called together trusted advisors from among the people and gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit and showed Moses that he needed to allow others to help him bear the burden of leadership. 

Listen to how the Lord worked here:

16 The LORD said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.

(Numbers 11:7-17 NIV11)

Missed It

In Exodus 18, Moses’ father-in-law gave Moses the wise counsel that he needed to stop trying to carry the load of all the people and that he needed to select others that could help. Moses did this with the burden of hearing the court cases of the people but he did not take this lesson to heart. 

He needed to apply this wisdom to the leadership of the whole people as well. By holding tight, Moses became worn out and burdened to the point of collapse. 

The Lord met the need of the people and the need of Moses when he shared the spiritual and physical leadership of the people among a larger group of trusted friends and helpers. 

How are you doing?

•  Do you feel like Moses? Are you burnt and in need of help?
•  Are you willing to ask the Lord to show you who might be capable of helping you share the load at work, at home, or in your church?
•  Are you willing to learn the lesson Moses learned before you collapse?

Ask the Lord to help you find wise and caring people who will help you serve strong for the long haul of life. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden 

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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