Tired of Manna?
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“Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium. The people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil. And when the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.” (Numbers 11:4-9)
Oftentimes people fall into the trap of only remembering what they want to remember at a given time. It is why people often talk of the “good ole days” with such one-sided fondness.
The children of Israel are tired of manna. They do not want any more of this bland colored bread. They want meat. They remember “fondly” the fish and vegetables that they used to eat in Egypt. What they have forgotten is all of the toil, hardship, and even death that was associated with that life. They have forgotten the most important things in their lust for something “better.”
It is easy for us to fall prey to the same attitudes today. They are born of greed and lust, and they create a skewed view of where we are and where we’ve been. The whining and complaining of Israel did not turn out in their favor on this occasion, nor will it work out well for us if we follow their example.
Be mindful of the words of Paul: “But godliness with contentment is great gain… and having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1 Timothy 6:6,8)