Have you ever been in a situation where things just are so overwhelming that you wanted to just give up, run away, say “enough”! Well, we reach that in this portion with Moses. The Israelites, not surprisingly, are complaining. God is angry and Moses is distressed.
In Numbers 11 this comes to a head. Moses complains to God saying that he has done what was asked, that he has carried the people “as a nurse carries an infant”. How can Moses meet the demands of these people? “I cannot carry all this people by myself, it is too much for me. If you would deal this way with me, kill me rather, I beg you, and let me see no more of my wretchedness.” (11: 14,15).
In a classic pastoral counseling or father-like response, God suggests that Moses talk to someone about his issues and thus the suggestions that Moses get 70 elders to talk this out. Sometimes you just need to share the burden. Just like in Exodus when Moses, overwhelmed at the thought of leading his people, got advice from his father in law in Portion Yitro.
I think this little section of our portion speaks volumes to us. Looking back on our lives, I am positive that we have had a similar experience to that of Moses. Life, sometimes, has seemed too much. It is in those moments when the value and importance of relationships comes to bear fruit. Sometimes we just needed to vent, to talk to someone without judgment, to just let it all out. Many of us have felt that way as we became caregivers for loved ones and the pressures, demands and concerns of that life stage became overwhelming. Hopefully, we had the opportunity to ask for help, to seek someone with whom we could share this burden.
It takes, sometime, courage to ask for help. No matter what our age, life throws us curves and challenges that can stop us. The eternal question of “why” is always there. Moses seeks the council of elders, and he does this several time. The lesson for us is simple, may we, in times when we are feeling that things are just “too much”, not fear to seek guidance and comfort from others who may have also walked the walk we are living
Shabbat shalom
Rabbi Richard F Address

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