NEEDING HELP

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“At that time I said to you, "You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone. The Lord your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as many as the stars in the sky. May the Lord, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised! But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you."
You answered me, "What you propose to do is good."

“So I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials. And I charged your judges at that time: Hear the disputes between your brothers and judge fairly, whether the case is between brother Israelites or between one of them and an alien. Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it. And at that time I told you everything you were to do." Deuteronomy 1:9-18

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Moses had just given Israel the word from the Lord. They were to leave Horeb and begin their way toward Canaan. But there was one other point of business that needed taken care of before they left. For Moses was just one man and Israel’s population had grown to epic proportions as confirmed in Moses’ words:

“The Lord your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as many as the stars in the sky.”

This increase in people created a leadership problem for Moses who proclaimed, “You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone… how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself?” If the people were to be cared for properly…if disputes were to be resolved properly…if problems were to be handled properly…then Moses would need some help.

Realizing this Moses tells the Israelites, “Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you." Israel carries out Moses’ request and Moses in turn appoints them to authority “as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials”. And Moses just doesn’t appoint them into the positions without guidance. No, he lets them know his expectations as they were to be an extension of his leadership. He charged them to “hear the disputes between your brothers and judge fairly, whether the case is between brother Israelites or between one of them and an alien. Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God”. And if any case was too difficult for them to handle, the newly appointed leaders were to bring it to Moses for him to hear it.

Through this account we learn an important life lesson: we often need help in matters of life. Moses realized that leading all of Israel was too much for him to do alone. And so, he solicited and got some assistance from the tribes.

We see this occur in the New Testament as well. Consider this passage from the Book of Acts:

“In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:1-7
In this passage, we see a similar predicament as what Moses was dealing with. There was simply too much for the 12 apostles to do on their own. The food distribution ministry was important and needed proper attention. Contracting more help would ensure food would be distributed equitably while the apostles could continue to focus on “prayer and the ministry of the word”. So the apostles tell the disciples to “choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” and they carry out their request, selecting Stephen, Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas. In turn, the apostles “prayed and laid their hands on them” officially commissioning them into the Lord’s service. Help had arrived and the “word of God spread” as the “number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith”.

As we think about ourselves and our own lives, we see that we can’t do it alone either. As much as we might want to be in control and handle everything we’re up against, we quickly find out that we need help…just as Moses did…just as the apostles did. And we need not worry where our help might come from. For the words of the Psalmist tells us:

I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip — He who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you — the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm — He will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121

Question: Are you trying to do everything in life on your own? In your need of help, have you turned to the Lord…the One from whom your help comes? Have you trusted wholly in the One who possessed the power to make heaven and earth…the One with the power to handle any situation or circumstance you’re going through?

Friends, as much as we try…as strong as we think we are…none of us are able to walk through life without help. What a comfort and a peace to know the Lord is there with us every step of the way…always ready to lend a hand. All we need do is call His name. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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