Numbers 11:1-9: a reflection

1The people were complaining in the ears of the LORD. When the LORD heard it, his anger burned; and the LORD’s fire burned among them, and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 2The people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire abated. 3The name of that place was called Taberah, because the LORD’s fire burned among them. 4The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly; and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? 5We remember the fish, which we ate in Egypt for nothing; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic; 6but now we have lost our appetite. There is nothing at all except this manna to look at.” 7The manna was like coriander seed, and it looked like bdellium. 8The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. Its taste was like the taste of fresh oil. 9When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.

Not long after God has been feeding them with manna from heaven, the people grow discontent, craving other food and despising what God has given. We remember the fish we ate in Egypt, they say, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks; but now there is nothing at all except this manna to look at. God's daily miracle of provision, the manna, had become to them a thing to despise; they scorned it, longing instead for the food of their slavery. Their discontent led them to despise the very provision of God.

Notice how discontent led them to despise God's provision. God was feeding them, day by day, with bread from heaven; but they were not content with it, craving something else, and in their discontent they came to despise the manna, calling it nothing at all, longing for the food of Egypt instead. Their craving for what they did not have made them scorn what God had graciously given. Discontent turned God's gracious provision into something they despised; they could not be thankful for the manna, because their hearts were set on something else.

That is worth taking to heart, for discontent can lead us, too, to despise what God has provided. When our hearts are set on something we do not have, we can grow discontent with what God has given, coming to scorn his provision as not enough, not what we wanted, nothing at all; but this despising of God's gifts, born of discontent, is a kind of ingratitude. Do not let discontent lead you to despise what God has provided, scorning his gifts because your heart is set on something else; the people despised the manna, God's daily provision, because they craved what they did not have. Be content with and thankful for what God provides, rather than despising it out of a craving for something else, as the people despised the manna and longed for the food of Egypt; for discontent turns God's gracious provision into something we scorn, and gratitude receives it as the gift it is.

Lord, not long after you have been feeding them with manna from heaven, the people grow discontent, craving other food and despising what you have given. We remember the fish we ate in Egypt, they say, the cucumbers, the melons; but now there is nothing at all except this manna to look at. Your daily miracle of provision had become to them a thing to despise; they scorned it, longing instead for the food of their slavery. Their discontent led them to despise your very provision. Show me how discontent led them to despise your provision. You were feeding them, day by day, with bread from heaven; but they were not content, craving something else, and in their discontent they came to despise the manna, calling it nothing at all. Their craving for what they did not have made them scorn what you had graciously given. Discontent turned your gracious provision into something they despised. Take that to my heart, for discontent can lead me, too, to despise what you have provided. When my heart is set on something I do not have, I can grow discontent with what you have given, coming to scorn your provision as not enough; but this despising of your gifts, born of discontent, is a kind of ingratitude. Keep me from letting discontent lead me to despise what you have provided, scorning your gifts because my heart is set on something else. Help me be content with and thankful for what you provide, Lord, rather than despising it out of a craving for something else.