God had shown the people His ways. He led them through the wilderness as a cloudy pillar that stayed above the Tabernacle. As they journeyed towards the promised land, God taught them His ways. His way to dress. His way to eat, His way to live. and His way to worship.
Just like people today, the Israelites sinned. They grumbled, and complained, and desired. And God didn't like it!
Numbers 11:1-3- And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.
Once, when the people complained, the Lord killed some of them with fire.
Numbers 11:4--6- And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
There was also a time where they complained about the food that God had provided for them. God sent angel's food down to them almost every morning. But, they weren't happy!
You see, some of the people that came out of Egypt were part Egyptian. They didn't have it as bad as the Israelite slaves did. They only remembered the good things about Egypt. They weren't thankful!
So God answered them.
Numbers 11:18-20- And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
God told them He would give them so much meat that they would be sick of it.
James 4:2-3- Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Sometimes, God doesn't give us what we want because it wouldn't be good for us. And He was going to teach the Israelites this!
Numbers 11:31-34- And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.
These people had been given what they wanted by God, and yet they couldn't even say thank you! He had performed a miracle so they could have what they desired. So, God punished them and more died by a plague.
I wonder how long it is going to take them to learn to obey?!?!
