Numbers 11:13
Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
The nursing father imagery reflects ancient Near Eastern royal ideology where kings were described as shepherds and fathers who nurtured their people. Moses' point was that even kings, with all their resources, couldn't singlehandedly care for a nation as a father cares for an infant. God's command seemed to require superhuman capacity. The reference to 'the land which thou swarest' recalls God's covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:7; 15:18), renewed with Isaac (Genesis 26:3) and Jacob (Genesis 28:13), emphasizing continuity of God's redemptive plan.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Moses' appeal to God's promises demonstrate the proper way to pray when feeling overwhelmed—grounding requests in God's character and commitments?
- What does God's response (providing seventy elders to help) teach about how He typically answers prayers about overwhelming burdens—not by removing responsibility but by providing help?
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Analysis & Commentary
Moses continues his complaint with the nursing metaphor: 'that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child.' The Hebrew ha'omen (הָאֹמֵן) translated 'nursing father' denotes a guardian or caretaker, someone responsible for a helpless dependent. Moses felt God had assigned him impossible responsibility—caring for millions as a father cares for an infant.
The destination 'unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers' reminds God of His promise. Moses wasn't questioning whether Israel should reach Canaan, but whether he could carry them there. The reference to the patriarchal promise (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) anchors Moses' prayer in covenant theology—God initiated this relationship and made promises He must fulfill. Moses appeals to God's character and commitments, not merely to his own needs.
This prayer demonstrates faith struggling with doubt, hope wrestling with despair. Moses believed God's promise but couldn't see how he could fulfill his role in it. This tension appears throughout Scripture: believers knowing God will accomplish His purposes while feeling inadequate for their assigned part. The resolution comes not through increased human capacity but through God's provision of help (verses 16-17: appointing seventy elders).