The Shortened Arm

Depression, sorrow, and despondency spiritually blinds us, causing us to forget the awesome power of God.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Beha'alotcha (בהעלותך | When you set up)

Torah: Numbers 8:1-12:15

Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14-4:7

Gospel: Luke 17:11-18:14

The Shortened Arm

Moses was depressed. Depression is the enemy of faith. Depression and self-pity create a spiritual blindness. When Moses allowed himself to be overcome by the pressures and stresses of his responsibilities, he slipped into despondency and temporarily went spiritually blind. He seems to have momentarily forgotten who God is and what God had done in the past.

The LORD told Moses that He would provide Israel with a month's supply of meat. Moses protested against the plan, pointing out to God that it would be impossible to procure sufficient meat to feed 600,000 men for a month. Moses rhetorically asked, "Should flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, [would it be] sufficient for them? Or should all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, [would it be] sufficient for them?" (Numbers 11:22).

Moses' reply seems shocking. Had Moses forgotten that God was already miraculously feeding the people on a daily basis? If God chose to feed them meat instead of manna every morning, what difference did that make? Moses' despondency had blinded him to God's power. His depression had flattened his faith.

God responded with a rhetorical question of His own. He asked Moses, "Is the LORD'S power limited?" (Numbers 11:23). A literal translation of the Hebrew is more poetic. He asked Moses, "Has the hand of the LORD become shorter?" In other words, "Are you suggesting that the God who wrought the ten plagues, split the sea, fed you with manna and brought water from the rock has lost His power?"

The next time you find yourself doubting God, ask yourself, "Has the hand of the LORD become shorter?" The next time you find yourself despondent and depressed, remind yourself of the great things God has done in the past.

Then I said, "It is my grief, that the right hand of the Most High has changed." I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work and muse on Your deeds. (Psalm 77:10-12)

-First Fruits of Zion