Before the Israelites set out from Mount Sinai, the LORD prepared them for their journey. The tribes were numbered and organized, and the camp was arranged around the tabernacle. The Levites were appointed to care for and carry the tabernacle, and the people celebrated the second Passover. God instructed them to follow the cloud of His presence, and silver trumpets were made to signal when to move.
With everything in place, the Israelites set out from the mountain of the LORD and traveled for three days, with the ark of the covenant going ahead of them to find a place for them to rest. Throughout their journey, the cloud of the LORD remained over them by day as they departed from the camp. Due to the large size of the tribes and the fact that this was their first organized march, it is unlikely that they covered much ground during this initial journey and as usual, the people started grumbling.
Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. – Numbers 11:1 (NIV)
Within just three days of their journey, the Israelites turned away from the very God who had delivered them from the power of Egypt. Why do we so easily forget God’s guiding hand the moment we face difficulty? When we stop hearing from God, another voice begins to torment us. The challenges of the journey don’t offer comfort or solutions—instead, the enemy uses them to stir rebellion against God.
After a time of rest, renewal, and deep exposure to God’s grace, the people quickly fell into grumbling and complaining about their condition. Yet the fire that appeared was not meant to destroy; it served as a warning and a sign from God. Moses’ prayer for the fire to be removed was a powerful reminder of God’s mercy and continued presence, even when the people had begun to forget.
So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the LORD had burned among them. – Numbers 11:3 (NIV)
Nostalgia Holds Us Back
Next, the Israelites began to crave variety in their food and complained about only having manna to eat. They longed for the diverse and flavorful foods they had in Egypt, like fish, cucumbers, and garlic. Though the manna was provided daily and could be prepared in different ways, they had grown tired of it and had lost their appetite.
People often have selective memory when reflecting on the past, especially when comparing it to God’s present provision. This tendency was evident in the Israelites’ complaint in the wilderness. Although they were once enslaved in Egypt, their focus shifted to the food they had enjoyed there, forgetting the suffering and bondage they endured. Instead of appreciating the miraculous daily provision of manna, they longed for the variety and flavor of their past diet. It is easy to overlook God’s present blessings when we grow bored or discontent.
Likewise, in our own lives, dissatisfaction can arise not from deep needs but from a desire for novelty or variety. We might start to resent the constancy of God’s provision simply because it lacks the excitement or comfort we associate with the past. Over time, our memories of the past tend to become idealized. Pain fades, and pleasures are exaggerated. This selective memory makes it easy to believe that the “old days” were better, even if they weren’t. This mindset not only weakens our trust in God’s current provision but also creates unnecessary dissatisfaction.
We must be cautious, as satan can use nostalgia as a tool to keep us from moving forward in faith. By stirring up longing for the past, he tempts us to doubt God’s direction and care in the present. Instead of embracing the journey ahead with trust, we may become stuck, always looking back and resisting growth. This strategy distracts us from God’s purposes and leads us to question His goodness, even when He is providing exactly what we need.
Moses Approaches God
Moses heard the people of Israel wailing in their tents, which deeply troubled him and angered the Lord. Overwhelmed, Moses cried out to God, questioning why he was given the heavy burden of leading the people. He expressed his frustration, saying he did not give them life and could not carry them like a nurse with an infant. Moses felt helpless in meeting their demands for meat and was unable to bear the responsibility alone.
If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me —if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.” – Numbers 11:15 (NIV)
The difference between Moses’s complaint and that of the Israelites lies in their attitude and intent. The Israelites were complaining directly against God’s provision. Their dissatisfaction was rooted in ingratitude and a craving for physical pleasures, despite God’s miraculous care. They longed for the comforts of Egypt, forgetting the oppression they had endured, and their demands for meat revealed a lack of trust in God’s plan and provision. Their complaints were rebellious and self-centered, showing a desire to satisfy their appetites more than a desire to follow God.
In contrast, Moses’s complaint was not one of rebellion but of deep personal anguish. He was overwhelmed by the weight of leadership and the constant disobedience of the people. His words to God were honest and raw, expressing his feelings of inadequacy and desperation. Moses did not reject God’s provision but questioned his own ability to carry the burden placed on him. He was not demanding relief for selfish reasons; he was pleading for help or release from a role he no longer felt capable of fulfilling.
God instructed Moses to gather seventy recognized elders to help share the burden of leadership. He promised to place part of His Spirit on them so Moses would no longer carry the weight alone. God also told Moses to inform the people that, because they had complained and longed for Egypt, He would give them meat, not just for a day, but for a whole month, until they were sick of it. When Moses questioned how such a large crowd could be fed meat for that long, God reminded him of His limitless power, saying, “Is the Lord’s arm too short?” and assured him that His word would be fulfilled.
Temporary Power
Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied —but did not do so again. – Numbers 11:25 (NIV)
The one-time gift of prophesying given to the seventy elders had a clear and specific purpose. It was not intended to make them prophets, but rather to serve as a sign that they had been chosen and accepted as leaders. When they prophesied, they did so in unison, showing a shared confirmation of their calling and unity in their role. This visible act demonstrated to the people that these men had been set apart to support Moses in carrying the heavy responsibility of leadership. The prophesying happened only once, highlighting that their task was to assist in leading the nation, not to function as prophets.
Two elders, Eldad and Medad, stayed in the camp instead of going to the tent, yet the Spirit still came upon them, and they began prophesying. This showed that the place where they gathered was not important, as God gave these leaders the same gift of prophesying even while they were in camp. A young man reported this to Moses, and Joshua, in a panicked state, urged Moses to stop them. However, Moses responded by saying he was not jealous and wished that all the Lord’s people could be prophets and receive His Spirit. Afterward, Moses and the elders returned to the camp.
The Wrath of God
God sent a wind that brought quail from the sea, covering the ground around the camp up to two cubits deep in every direction. The people gathered quail for two days, collecting large amounts, and spread them out around the camp. But before they could finish eating, God’s anger burned against them, and He struck them with a severe plague because of their craving. The place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, meaning “graves of craving,” as many were buried there. Afterward, the Israelites traveled to Hazeroth and stayed there.
Even after witnessing the sign of the elders prophesying, the hearts of the Israelites remained hardened and resistant to God’s instruction. Although God had told them they would eat quail for a month, His judgement came swiftly upon those who likely stirred up the initial rabble and led others into discontent. Instead of enjoying the provision, they died that very day and were buried, while the rest of the Israelites moved on from that place and continued their journey towards the promise land.
Discussion Questions
- Within just three days of their journey, the Israelites turned against the very God who had delivered them from the power of Egypt. Why is it that we so quickly forget God’s guiding hand in our lives the moment difficulties arise?
- In what ways does longing for the past (like the Israelites craving food they ate in Egypt) hinder us from recognizing and embracing what God is doing in the present?
- Why did God change His mind and punish the people for asking for quail before they could even eat it?
Map
The Jordan Valley 
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