An Observation from Numbers 11

I was reading Numbers yesterday, and was struck by a particular passage. In chapter 11, the Israelites complained about not having any meat to eat, but only manna. (They even reminisce fondly about the good food they had in Egypt, noting that not only was it good, it was also free! Strange to contemplate the "benefits" of slavery in that way!) After they complained, Moses goes to God, who says he will provide them meat (they won't be happy about it, but that's another story for another time). Moses then wonders how this will be possible.

In response, God says ‏ היד יהוה תקצר ("Is the hand of Yahweh short?"). What struck me was the total assurance that comes from this question. God's hand is never too short to accomplish what he intends to do. He is, rather, all-powerful and sovereign, and able to do exactly what he intends to.

So, when I am uncertain about the future or anxious about something, I will remind myself of God's question to Moses ( ‏ היד יהוה תקצר). Lord willing, I'll be able to trust in the "long hand" of God!