In Numbers 11, the people complain against The Lord, weeping about how great the food was in Egypt and wishing they had meat again, instead of just manna. The Lord gives them their request, sending enough meat for a month (quail from heaven) but also sends a plague because they grumbled against Him. They name the place "Kibroth-hattaavah" which means "graves of craving" and those who had craved the meat died with it still in their mouths.
There is a lot in life that we don't understand and opportunities for questioning God's plan for our lives, but this example here really speaks to a fundamental heart issue of pride - do we know what's best for us or does God? This truly is the root of all sin, as we saw in the garden when Satan tempted Eve saying "Did God actually say...." and then "You will not surely die. For God knows when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Gen 3) What happens next? Shame - Adam and Eve cover themselves and then hide from God. It is true - they did know good from evil and they now understood that they were evil - and they tried to hide from God. They now knew they were not worthy of His presence. They understood they shouldn't be able to walk with Him and talk with Him as they had been. In just a few moments, they give into the sin of pride and simultaneously saw their true selves. They got what they wanted and the result was their death. They too now had graves of craving.
When we reject God rightful rule of our lives, we lose the protection He had planned for our good. People often cling to the famous verses in Jeremiah saying "For I know the plans I have for you, declares The Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jer. 29:11)
But these verses are not an empty promise for life to go however we want it to. It says that God's plan is for our good. He knows what He is leading us to. He sees our current state in the wilderness and every step we are taking on our journey to the promise land. He's got it covered. But He doesn't ever promise to show us the reasons for why or when or how. As we question the unknown or convince ourselves that we know better, we begin to ask God "where's that future and hope You promised me" without acknowledging that we don't always understand His plan.
Israel didn't know it at the time, but while they were camped out in the wilderness, the King of Moab was trying to destroy them. He calls on Balaam to curse the people, not knowing they are the people of God. In Numbers 23, Balaam explains to the king he cannot curse God's people, because he can only speak what The Lord allows him to. Instead he says "God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has he said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it? Behold, I have received a command to bless: He has blessed, and I cannot revoke it."
The Lord was interceding for Israel in so many ways,that they would never see or understand - in addition to what they did see - the cloud and pillar of fire, the manna from heaven, the water from the rock, the armies fleeing before them, the Egyptians drowned in the Red Sea, His glory at Mount Sinai. This was a blessed people and everyone knew it but them. All the kings of the world around them were terrified of the God who fought on their behalf, but Israel complained and grumbled and questioned His goodness.
Our cravings may be food or money or possessions or comfort or what the world would consider good fortune. We find so many distractions that make us question if God's plan really is for our good or not. But to set our heart against Him is our death and His good for us is eternal life.
O Lord, give us eyes to see Your goodness and hearts thankful for Your mercy.
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