Terrible Murmurings of God’s People
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though they knew that he was following the cloud. Dissatisfaction is
contagious, and it soon spread in the encampment.
Again they began to clamor for flesh to eat. Many of the Egyptians
among them had been accustomed to a luxurious diet, and these were
the first to complain.
God might as easily have provided them with flesh as with manna,
but it was His purpose to supply food better suited to their wants. The
perverted appetite was to be brought into a more healthy state that
they might enjoy the food originally provided for man, the fruits of the
earth which God gave to Adam and Eve in Eden. For this reason the
Israelites had been deprived in a great measure of animal food.
Satan tempted them to regard this as unjust and cruel. He saw that
unrestrained indulgence of appetite would tend to produce sensuality,
and by this means the people could be more easily brought under his
control. Through appetite he has, to a large extent, led men into sin
from the time he induced Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit. Intemper-
ance in eating and drinking prepares the way to disregard all moral
obligations.
God brought the Israelites from Egypt that He might establish
them in the land of Canaan a pure, holy, and happy people. Had
they been willing to deny appetite, feebleness and disease would have
been unknown among them. Their descendants would have possessed
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physical and mental strength, clear perceptions of truth and duty, keen
discrimination, and sound judgment.
Says the psalmist: “They tempted God in their heart by asking
meat for their lust. Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God
furnish a table in the wilderness? ... can He provide flesh for His
people? Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth.”
Psalm 78:18-
21
. They had been witnesses to the majesty, power, and mercy of
God; and their unbelief and discontent incurred the greater guilt. They
had covenanted to obey His authority. Their murmuring was now
rebellion, and as such it must receive prompt punishment if Israel was
to be preserved from anarchy and ruin. “The fire of Jehovah burnt
among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of
the camp.” The most guilty of the complainers were slain by lightning
from the cloud.