The heart of Moses sank. He had pleaded that Israel should not be destroyed, even though his own posterity might then become a great nation. In his love for them he had prayed that his 380 name might be blotted from the book of life rather than that they should be left to perish. He had imperiled all for them, and this was their response. All their hardships, even their imaginary sufferings, they charged upon him; and their wicked murmurings made doubly heavy the burden of care and responsibility under which he staggered. In his distress he was tempted even to distrust God. His prayer was almost a complaint. "Wherefore hast Thou afflicted Thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in Thy sight, that Thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? . . . Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me."

Nu mistede Moses modet. Han havde bedt om, at Israel ikke måtte blive tilintetgjort, selv om hans egne efterkommere derved kunne være blevet til et stort folk. I sin kærlighed til dem havde han bedt om, at hans navn måtte blive slettet af livets bog, frem for at folket skulle omkomme. Han havde vovet alt for deres skyld, og dette var den tak, han fik for det. De gav ham skylden for alle deres vanskeligheder - også deres indbildte lidelser - og deres skændige knurren gjorde omsorgens og ansvarets byrde, som han var ved at segne under, dobbelt så tung. I sin nød fristedes han til at nære mistillid til Gud. Hans bøn havde næsten karakter af en anklage. "Hvorfor har du handlet så ilde med din tjener, og hvorfor har jeg ikke fundet nåde for dine øjne, siden du har lagt hele dette folk som en byrde på mig? Hvor skal jeg gå hen og skaffe hele dette folk kød? Thi de græder rundt om mig og siger: Skaf os kød at spise. Jeg kan ikke ene bære hele dette folk, det er mig for tungt."