John Calvin Commentary Numbers 11:10

"And Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased." — Numbers 11:10 (ASV)

Then Moses heard the people weep. Wonderful indeed, and almost extraordinary, was the madness of the people, that all of them mourned as if driven to complete despair. What would they have done in actual famine? What if they had to gnaw bitter roots, almost without any juice in them? What if they had had to live on tasteless and unwholesome bread? We see, therefore, how by indulging their depraved desires people make themselves wretched in the very midst of prosperity. Let us, then, learn to restrain our excessive passions, so that we do not bring upon ourselves troubles, inconveniences, and all sorts of painful feelings. For if the cause is carefully considered, when people afflict themselves with sorrow and lamentation, we will generally find that, while the suffering might be lessened by endurance, its pain is increased by unreasonable imaginations.

But here a blatant instance of luxury is set before us: when, in their satiety, they weep as if long abstinence threatened them with death. It was an effect of holy and praiseworthy zeal that this great waywardness displeased Moses. However, he was not without error in carrying his reaction to excess, for he unjustly remonstrated with God, complaining that God had laid too heavy a burden upon him, when he knew all the time that he was sustained by God's power. His charge was indeed difficult and laborious. But since he had experienced God’s wondrous aid whenever he had groaned beneath his burden, there was no room for complaint. Besides, since he had been honored with a special distinction, it was ungrateful to discredit the good gift of God.

He regards it as his greatest misfortune that the charge of governing the people had been entrusted to him. In contrast, he should have been utterly overwhelmed with astonishment that God had condescended to choose him to be the redeemer of His people and the minister of His wondrous power. It was also very inconsiderate of him to ask whether he had fathered or given birth to the people, as if his calling by God did not place him under sufficient obligation, or as if there were no other ties than those of nature. Indeed, God has given parents such love for their children that they willingly endure incredible hardships for them. But Moses was bound by a different kind of dutiful commitment, for by God’s command he was father of the people. Therefore, he should not have considered only nature, but also the obligation of his office.