Numbers 11:14

I am not able to bear all this people alone, because [it is] too heavy for me.

I am not able {H3201} to bear {H5375} all this people {H5971} alone {H905}, because it is too heavy {H3515} for me.

I can't carry this entire people by myself alone - it's too much for me!

I cannot carry all these people by myself; it is too burdensome for me.

I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

Commentary

Numbers 11:14 (KJV) captures a moment of profound human vulnerability from one of history's greatest leaders, Moses. Overwhelmed by the constant complaints and immense responsibility of leading the Israelite multitude through the wilderness, Moses cries out to God, expressing his inability to carry the burden alone.

Context

This verse is situated immediately after the Israelites have grown weary of the manna God provided daily and began to lust after the more varied diet they had in Egypt. Their incessant complaining and lack of gratitude deeply distressed Moses. He felt the weight of their spiritual and physical needs, coupled with their rebellious spirit, was more than he could bear. This cry of despair is not a sign of weakness but an honest admission of human limitation in the face of an impossible task without divine assistance.

Key Themes

  • The Burden of Leadership: Moses' declaration highlights the immense pressure and emotional toll that leadership, especially spiritual leadership, can exert. It underscores that even divinely appointed leaders face moments of overwhelming challenge.
  • Human Limitation and Dependence on God: Moses' cry is a powerful reminder that even the most capable individuals are finite. It emphasizes the necessity of relying on God's strength and provision, especially when faced with tasks that are "too heavy" for human shoulders alone. This resonates with the principle that God's strength is made perfect in weakness.
  • The Weight of a Complaining People: The Israelites' constant grumbling was a significant factor contributing to Moses' distress. This illustrates how negative attitudes and lack of faith within a community can heavily impact their leaders.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "bear" is nasa (ื ึธืฉึธื‚ื), which means "to lift," "carry," "endure," or "take up." Moses is saying he cannot physically or spiritually sustain the weight of the people. The phrase "too heavy for me" uses the Hebrew word kabad (ื›ึธึผื‘ึตื“), which literally means "heavy" or "burdensome." In this context, it conveys the overwhelming and oppressive nature of his responsibility.

Related Scriptures

Moses' struggle here foreshadows God's solution: the appointment of seventy elders to share the burden, as described in the subsequent verses (Numbers 11:16-17). This divine delegation illustrates God's compassionate response to a leader's genuine cry for help. The principle of sharing burdens is later echoed in the New Testament, where believers are exhorted to "bear one another's burdens" (Galatians 6:2), demonstrating a communal approach to challenges.

Practical Application

Moses' honest confession in Numbers 11:14 offers several timeless lessons:

  • Admitting Limitations: It is not a sign of failure but of wisdom to recognize and admit when a task is beyond one's individual capacity.
  • Seeking Divine Help: When overwhelmed, the first recourse should be to bring our burdens to God in prayer, just as Moses did. He alone can provide the strength, wisdom, or resources needed.
  • The Value of Delegation: God often provides solutions through others. Leaders should not hesitate to delegate and empower others to share responsibilities, fostering a healthier, more sustainable model of leadership.
  • Empathy for Leaders: This verse encourages empathy for those in positions of leadership, reminding us that they too face immense pressures and need support and understanding, not just criticism.
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Cross-References

  • Exodus 18:18

    Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that [is] with thee: for this thing [is] too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

  • Deuteronomy 1:9

    ยถ And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:

  • Deuteronomy 1:12

    How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?

  • Zechariah 6:13

    Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:16

    To the one [we are] the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who [is] sufficient for these things?

  • Isaiah 9:6

    For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

  • Psalms 89:19

    ยถ Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon [one that is] mighty; I have exalted [one] chosen out of the people.
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