Numbers 10:35-11:3
HOW FULLY does the Lord identify Himself with His people, as seen in the prayer which Moses, taught of God, uttered when the ark set forward. Israel’s enemies are God’s enemies, so Moses said, “Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate Thee flee before Thee.” Then when the cloud rested he said, “Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel.”
What a comfort it must have been for fathers and mothers and their little children to go to rest and sleep in their tents in the peace and satisfaction of knowing that the face of Jehovah was looking down on them in love. And we can do the same, dear young Christian, for underneath those outspread wings of love and power we can rest surely and in peace. “He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psa. 121:3,4.
Scarcely had the Israelites left Mount Sinai when they began to feel the hardships of the way. They had formerly complained about the path, now they object to the provision.
“And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord.”
For eighteen months they had feasted upon the manna — type of the Lord Jesus, the living bread. Like salvation, the manna came down from God and it was free to all. But the people got tired of heavenly food, and began to complain. Exodus 16:31 tells us the manna tasted like wafers made with wild honey, but afterward when the people had lost their relish for it, it tasted like fresh oil.
God feeds His people today in the wilderness through His Word. Christ is the food of His people, the bread of God, come down from heaven. But it is the sign of a bad condition of the soul when Christians neglect the Word of God and devour the trashy literature of this world. Just as wholesome food helps to maintain the body in health, so reading the Word of God and other good wholesome books, together with prayer, will keep the soul in health also.
Apparently the people became tired of the flavor of the manna and began to grind it in mills and beat it in a mortar. They baked it in pans in order to vary the flavor, but alas, this only spoiled it, for it no longer tasted like wafers made with honey. Its sweetness was gone, and it tasted like fresh oil. How this reminds us of the attempt on every hand to try by various means to make the things of God more attractive to the natural heart of man. Instead of the old faithful preaching the word is toned down, to make it interesting to the intellect, thus robbing it of that freshness, and sweetness and power when the truth is presented in simplicity by the Spirit.
The manna continued to fall in spite of the murmurings of the people? Nevertheless God’s anger was kindled and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed many of them. The people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched.
ML-07/29/1973