Romancing The Rock

‘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? 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? Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.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.”’ [Numbers 11:11-15 NIV]

Photo by Yogee B

I love reading how Moses talked to God and I think it holds a key to prayer. Moses didn’t approach God with quiet supplication, and ‘Lord, if it be thy will’ kind of sentiment. He came before God with his emotions on his sleeve. He told God precisely how he felt, even in an accusatory fashion — ‘if this is how you are going to treat me‘ — and instead of being struck down by lightning as some of us might expect if we spoke to God like that, God answered his request.

Even a few verses down, God tells Moses He will feed the Israelites meat. Moses didn’t just say ‘thanks God, looking forward to it.’ He replied more along the lines of ‘yeah right, there aren’t enough fish in the sea to feed this lot.’ Again, he wasn’t struck down, but he was challenged not to doubt the hand of the Lord.

I guess it all comes down to relationship. In Exodus 33:11, it says that God spoke with Moses face to face as one speaks to a friend. If we as Christians have a true revelation of our right-standing with God and our Father-child relationship, we would be bold enough to come before Him with our hearts bared, and speak to Him honestly and openly. That, I believe, is how God wants it to be.