Day 50: Numbers 10-13, Psalm 90

Moses & God seem to have a unique relationship. In these chapters we find the Israelites setting out on their journey to the promised land. There's a lot of complaining. They're getting really tired of eating nothing but manna and complain about it. God says, "You want meat to eat? I'll give you meat!" He says: "You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it!" (11:18-20) Then when they do get their meat they all get sick and a bunch of them die! (11:33)

But when Moses gets tired of dealing with the people and complains to God about it God responds by helping him out. The burden of dealing with the people is now going to be shared with 70 elders. (11:16)

Through this whole time Moses seems to talk to God like one man talks to another. He argues with God. Sometimes he persuades God to change His mind! At one point Miriam & Aaron get sort of jealous and begin talking trash about Moses. "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” (13:2) God hears about it and this is His response to Miriam & Aaron: 

“When there is a prophet among you,
   I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions,
   I speak to them in dreams.
But this is not true of my servant Moses;
   he is faithful in all my house.
With him I speak face to face,
   clearly and not in riddles;
   he sees the form of the LORD.
Why then were you not afraid
   to speak against my servant Moses?” (13:6-8)

Then Moses pleads for mercy for them. That's the kind of guy he is.

Then our day's reading ends with this Psalm 90, written by Moses:

We are consumed by your anger
   and terrified by your indignation.
You have set our iniquities before you,
   our secret sins in the light of your presence.
Relent, LORD! How long will it be?
   Have compassion on your servants.
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
   that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Ps. 90:7-8,13-14)