“In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”” (Exodus 16:2-3)
I’m not certain whether the Israelites’ comments were dead serious or included a measure of exaggeration or satire to drive their point. Clearly they were grumbling. They did not have it good in Egyptian slavery as they claimed and had cried out to God for deliverance. They were thinking with their belly, rather than their head. These were very insulting accusations, but Moses replied, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”” (Exodus 16:8)
I believe it was God’s plan to provide food and drink for his people, but He needed to teach them discipline in the desert for their good. This even happened to Yeshua when He went into the desert to be tempted. (Matt. 4:1) God gave the Israelites quail and heavenly bread they called manna for their food in the desert. Similarly, to Yeshua’s time in the desert, the Israelis were attacked by Amalekites. God gave them victory as Moses held up his staff. “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.”” (Exodus 17:14) I believe this is a prophetic illustration of Yeshua’s ultimate defeat and removal of satan from heaven and earth.
We can’t be too judgmental of the Israelites because we are prone to the same faithless rebellious behavior. God is gracious and merciful; He surrounded the Israelis with supernatural provisions, a pilar of cloud by day and fire by night, victories over attacking armies, clothes that didn’t wear out, and brought the next generation into the promised land. It may be said that the Congregation of Believers has the same, even better, supernatural provisions through the indwelling Holy Spirit. It reminds us to reject faithless insulting thoughts and accusations if we suffer temporary hardship and instead praise and worship our Lord and Savior, Yeshua Messiah.
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