Our Father Knows Best

Scripture(s): Numbers 11:4-6

The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, "Who will give us meat to eat? "We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna."

Commentary:
These verses represent things sadly unhinged and out of order in Israel, both the people and the prince uneasy.

I. Here is the people fretting, and speaking against God himself (as it is interpreted, Ps. 78:19), notwithstanding his glorious appearances both to them and for them. Observe, (Henry, 1996).

1. Who were the criminals. (1.) The mixed multitude began, they fell a lusting, v. 4. The rabble that came with them out of Egypt, expecting only the land of promise, but not a state of probation in the way to it. They were hangers on, who took hold of the skirts of the Jews, and would go with them only because they knew not how to live at home, and were disposed to seek their fortunes (as we say) abroad. These were the scabbed sheep that infected the flock, the leaven that leavened the whole lump. Note, A few factious, discontented, ill-natured people, may do a great deal of mischief in the best societies, if great care be not taken to discountenance them. Such as these are an untoward generation, from which it is our wisdom to save ourselves, Acts 2:40. (2.) Even the children of Israel took the infection, as we are informed, v. 4. The holy seed joined themselves to the people of these abominations. The mixed multitude here spoken of were not numbered with the children of Israel, but were set aside as a people God made no account of; and yet the children of Israel, forgetting their own character and distinction, herded themselves with them and learned their way, as if the scum and outcasts of the camp were to be the privy-counsellors of it. The children of Israel, a people near to God and highly privileged, yet drawn into rebellion against him! O how little honour has God in the world, when even the people which he formed for himself, to show forth his praise, were so much a dishonour to him! Therefore let none think that their external professions and privileges will be their security either against Satan’s temptations to sin or God’s judgments for sin. See 1 Co. 10:1, 2, 12 (Henry, 1996).

2. What was the crime: they lusted and murmured. Though they had been lately corrected for this sin, and many of them overthrown for it, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and the smell of the fire was still in their nostrils, yet they returned to it. See Prov. 27:22. (1.) They magnified the plenty and dainties they had had in Egypt (v. 5), as if God had done them a great deal of wrong in taking them thence. While they were in Egypt they sighed by reason of their burdens, for their lives were made bitter to them with hard bondage; and yet now they talk of Egypt as if they had all lived like princes there, when this serves as a colour for their present discontent. But with what face can they talk of eating fish in Egypt freely, or for nought, as if it cost them nothing, when they paid so dearly for it with their hard service? They remember the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick (precious stuff indeed to be fond of!), but they do not remember the brick-kilns and the task-masters, the voice of the oppressor and the smart of the whip. No, these are forgotten by these ungrateful people. (2.)

They were sick of the good provision God had made for them, v. 6. It was bread from heaven, angels’ food. To show how unreasonable their complaint was, it is here described, v. 7-9. It was good for food, and pleasant to the eye, every grain like an orient pearl; it was wholesome food and nourishing; it was not to be called dry bread, for it tasted like fresh oil; it was agreeable (the Jews say, Wisd. 16:20) to every man’s palate, and tasted as he would have it; and, though it was still the same, yet, by the different ways of dressing it, it yielded them a grateful variety; it cost them no money, nor care, for it fell in the night, while they slept; and the labour of gathering it was not worth speaking of; they lived upon free quarter, and yet could talk of Egypt’s cheapness and the fish they ate there freely. Nay, which was much more valuable than all this, the manna came from the immediate power and bounty of God, not from common providence, but from special favour. It was, as God’s compassion, new every morning, always fresh, not as their food who live on shipboard (Henry, 1996).

While they lived on manna, they seemed to be exempted from the curse which sin has brought on man, that in the sweat of his face should he eat bread. And yet they speak of manna with such scorn, as if it were not good enough to be meat for swine: Our soul is dried away. They speak as if God dealt hardly with them in allowing them no better food. At first they admired it (Ex. 16:15): What is this? "What a curious precious thing is this!’’ But now they despised it. Note, Peevish discontented minds will find fault with that which has no fault in it but that it is too good for them. It is very provoking to God to undervalue his favours, and to put a but upon our common mercies. Nothing but manna! Those that might be very happy often make themselves very miserable by their discontents (Henry, 1996).

(3.) They could not be satisfied unless they had flesh to eat. They brought flocks and herds with them in great abundance out of Egypt; but either they were covetous, and could not find in their hearts to kill them, lest they should lessen their flocks (they must have flesh as cheap as they had bread, or they would not be pleased), or else they were curious, beef and mutton would not please them; they must have something more nice and delicate, like the fish they did eat in Egypt. Food would not serve; they must be feasted. They had feasted with God upon the peace-offerings which they had their share of; but it seems God did not keep a table good enough for them, they must have daintier bits than any that came to his altar (Henry, 1996).

Note, It is an evidence of the dominion of the carnal mind when we are solicitous to have all the delights and satisfactions of sense wound up to the height of pleasurableness. Be not desirous of dainties, Prov. 23:1-3. If God gives us food convenient, we ought to be thankful, though we do not eat the fat and drink the sweet. (4.) They distrusted the power and goodness of God as insufficient for their supply: Who will give us flesh to eat? taking it for granted that God could not. Thus this question is commented upon, Ps. 78:19, 20, Can he provide flesh also? though he had given them flesh with their bread once, when he saw fit (Ex. 16:13), and they might have expected that he would do it again, and in mercy, if, instead of murmuring, they had prayed. Note, It is an offence to God to let our desires go beyond our faith. (5.) They were eager and importunate in their desires; they lusted a lust, so the word is, lusted greatly and greedily, till they wept again for vexation (Henry, 1996),

So childish were the children of Israel, and so humoursome, that they cried because they had not what they would have and when they would have it. They did not offer up this desire to God, but would rather be beholden to any one else than to him. We should not indulge ourselves in any desire which we cannot in faith turn into prayer, as we cannot when we ask meat for our lust, Ps. 78:18. For this sin the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly against them, which is written for our admonition, that we should not lust after evil things as they lusted, 1 Co. 10:6. (6.) Flesh is good food, and may lawfully be eaten; yet they are said to lust after evil things. What is lawful of itself becomes evil to us when it is what God does not allot to us and yet we eagerly desire it (Henry, 1996).

Reflection:
The children of Israel made a conscious decision to agree with those that were mixed in with the chosen people of God. They forgot whom their God was, and joined forces with a bunch of individuals that were greedy for what they were accustomed to  in the land of bondage and slavery. They voiced there opinions loudly, and boisterously among the people; to the point that God heard, and so did Moses. God was angry with the children of Israel for having no faith in Him to provide what He knew they needed, and to accuse Him of not being able to provide for them. God had provided Manna for them in the wilderness of Sinai, every single day, and up until now it was sufficient. However, when they began to listen to the voice of those that had no relationship with God, and started complaining about the provision of God, they were rebuked by God Himself.

God provides according to what He knows is best for us, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Even though we think we know what we need, our Father knows best. We shoud refrain from complaining,  because God sees and knows every angle of our life. He knows exactly what we need, and when we need it. As children of God, we must remember to trust the timing of God, be thankful for the provisions of today, and not to be concerned about the provisions of tomorrow. For God knows what we have need of before we even ask.

Strong's Concordance Definitions: King James Version (Numbers 11:4)

Rabble: 628
1) collection, rabble, collected multitude, mixed multitude

that was among: 7130
1) midst, among, inner part, middle
a) inward part
1) physical sense
2) as seat of thought and emotion
3) as faculty of thought and emotion
b) in the midst, among, from among (of a number of persons)
c) entrails (of sacrificial animals)

them, fell a lusting: 183
1) desire, incline, covet, wait longingly, wish, sigh, want, be greedy, prefer

a) (Piel) to desire, crave (food and drink)
b) (Hithpael) to desire, long for, lust after (of bodily appetites)

of Israel: 3478
Israel = "God prevails"

1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel
2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob
a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split
b) the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah
c) the name of the nation after the return from exile

also wept: 1058
1) to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears

a) (Qal)
1) to weep (in grief, humiliation, or joy)
2) to weep bitterly (with cognate acc.)
3) to weep upon (embrace and weep)
4) to bewail
b) (Piel) participle
1) lamenting
2) bewailing

who shall give us flesh: 1320
1) flesh
a) of the body
1) of humans
2) of animals
b) the body itself
c) male organ of generation (euphemism)
d) kindred, blood-relations
e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God)
f) all living things
g) animals
h) mankind

to eat: 398
1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

a) (Qal)
1) to eat (human subject)
2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)
3) to devour, consume (of fire)
4) to devour, slay (of sword)
5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)
6) to devour (of oppression)
b) (Niphal)
1) to be eaten (by men)
2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)
3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)
c) (Pual)
1) to cause to eat, feed with
2) to cause to devour
d) (Hiphil)
1) to feed
2) to cause to eat
e) (Piel)
1) consume

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Book of Numbers 11 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 25 Feb 2010.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Num&c=11&t=NASB
 
Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Numbers 11." . Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar 1996. 2010. 25 Feb 2010. http:// www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?
AuthorID=4&contentID=758&commInfo=5&topic=Numbers&ar=Num_11_4

Higgins, S. (2010). Our Father Knows Best (RP). Devotions For Thought. Higgins Publishing. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com