Numbers 11:21-27: a reflection

21Moses said, “The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand men on foot; and you have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month.’ 22Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to be sufficient for them? Shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to be sufficient for them?” 23The LORD said to Moses, “Has the LORD’s hand grown short? Now you will see whether my word will happen to you or not.” 24Moses went out, and told the people the LORD’s words; and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them around the Tent. 25The LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more. 26But two men remained in the camp. The name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad; and the Spirit rested on them. They were of those who were written, but had not gone out to the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp. 27A young man ran, and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!”

When God promises to give the grumbling people meat to eat for a whole month, Moses doubts it can be done. The people number six hundred thousand men, he protests; shall flocks and herds be slaughtered to be enough for them? Shall all the fish of the sea be gathered? To Moses the thing seems impossible; he cannot see how it could be provided. And God answers with a question that rebukes the doubt: Has the LORD's hand grown short? Now you will see whether my word will happen to you or not. God's ability was not limited by what Moses could imagine.

Notice God's question, and what it exposes: Has the LORD's hand grown short? Moses doubted because he could not see how the thing could be done; he measured God's ability by his own reckoning of what was possible. But God asks whether his hand has grown short, whether he lacks the ability to do what he has said. The question exposes the folly of Moses' doubt: God's ability is not limited by what we can imagine or see how to accomplish. The LORD's hand has not grown short; he is able to do what he has promised, however impossible it seems to us.

That question is worth taking to heart, for we too can doubt God's ability, measuring it by what we can imagine. When God promises something, or when we consider what he might do, we can doubt, because we cannot see how it could be done, measuring his ability by our own reckoning; but God asks, has the LORD's hand grown short? His ability is not limited by what we can see or imagine. Do not doubt God's ability to do what he has promised because you cannot see how; the LORD's hand has not grown short. When something seems impossible to you, do not conclude that it is beyond God, measuring his power by your own reckoning; ask, as God asked Moses, has the LORD's hand grown short? and trust that God is able to do what he has said, however impossible it seems to you, for his hand is not shortened, and he does what he promises.

Lord, when you promise to give the grumbling people meat for a whole month, Moses doubts it can be done. The people number six hundred thousand men, he protests; shall flocks and herds be slaughtered to be enough for them? To Moses the thing seems impossible; he cannot see how it could be provided. And you answer with a question that rebukes the doubt: has the LORD's hand grown short? Now you will see whether my word will happen to you or not. Your ability was not limited by what Moses could imagine. Show me your question, and what it exposes: has the LORD's hand grown short? Moses doubted because he could not see how the thing could be done; he measured your ability by his own reckoning of what was possible. But you ask whether your hand has grown short, whether you lack the ability to do what you have said. The question exposes the folly of his doubt: your ability is not limited by what I can imagine. Your hand has not grown short. Take that question to my heart, for I too can doubt your ability, measuring it by what I can imagine. When you promise something, I can doubt, because I cannot see how it could be done; but you ask, has the LORD's hand grown short? Your ability is not limited by what I can see. Keep me from doubting your ability to do what you have promised because I cannot see how; your hand has not grown short. When something seems impossible to me, keep me from concluding that it is beyond you, Lord; help me ask, has the LORD's hand grown short? and trust that you are able to do what you have said.