Scripture Daily

Context No. 3161 of 4322 · Numbers

Context · Reflection

Numbers 21:1-5: in context

1The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the South, heard that Israel came by the way of Atharim. He fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. 2Israel vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, “If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.” 3The LORD listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. The name of the place was called Hormah. 4They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. The soul of the people was very discouraged because of the journey. 5The people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, there is no water, and our soul loathes this disgusting food!”

The Canaanite king of Arad attacks Israel and takes some captive. Israel vows to the LORD, and when God gives them the victory, they name the place Hormah. But then, on the long detour around Edom, the people grow impatient. They speak against God and against Moses: why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread, no water, and we loathe this worthless food.

The whiplash is striking. One moment Israel makes a vow, seeks God, and wins a victory he grants; the next, worn down by a long and hard detour, they turn and complain against the very God who just delivered them, even calling the manna, God's daily miracle bread, this worthless food. Comfort forgets quickly, and hardship makes the heart ungrateful; the same people who vowed and were answered now despise God's provision. It is a mirror held up to us: how quickly gratitude for yesterday's deliverance curdles into complaint under today's discomfort.

How quickly does yesterday's gratitude for God's help turn into today's complaint when the road gets long and hard?

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