God had led the people out of slavery and oppression in the land of Egypt. Now, about two years later, after providing for their every need, including manna to eat (bread from heaven), they set out from Mount Sinai in the order God commanded.
In Chapter 11 we see two complaints from the people of Israel. One was for their “misfortunes” (11:1), and the other was about ‘only’ having manna to eat (11:4-9). The first complaint resulted in the literal fiery wrath of God, with Moses interceding, and the Lord relents.
The second complaint, while on the surface seems like a complaint about the monotony of their diet, actually goes deeper than that.
“Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” (11:4-6)
They weren’t just complaining about the menu. They were longing for the pleasures of Egypt. God had rescued them from their enslavement and oppression. He had defeated the entire Egyptian army as he led them through the Red Sea on dry ground. He led them by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night – always with them. He provided bread from heaven in the exact amount they would need every day. He dwelt with them in the Tabernacle. Yet, now they longed for what they had left behind. Instead of looking back at their life in Egypt and seeing the misery of it all – they longed for the ‘ease’ and pleasures of it. In hindsight, their old life looked like a cakewalk compared to following the Lord.
He called them out of Egypt. He calls us out of the world.
He set them apart from the nations around them. He sets us apart from the world around us.
He freed them from their slavery to Pharoah. He frees us from our slavery to our sin.
He dwelt among them in the tabernacle. He dwells within us through his Spirit.
They journeyed through the wilderness and were sustained by him. We journey through this world sustained by his grace.
They witnessed countless amazing displays of his glory, power, and presence. We witness his grace, his love, and his mercy through our salvation in Christ.
They complained and longed for the days of old because things weren’t easy. We complain and disobey his will because it isn’t easy.
Moses interceded on their behalf when they disobeyed. Christ took our punishment for our disobedience and sin.
In many ways, Israel is a picture of us. We lose sight of the goodness and faithfulness of God in our salvation. We grumble and complain because things get hard or we are faced with trials. It doesn’t take much for us to lose sight of him – just as it happened with Israel.
But we have something they didn’t. We have the cross. We have the Word of God in its entirety with the Bible. We have the Holy Spirit that dwells in us. We have the grace of the Holy and Righteous God through his Son.
Let’s not lose sight of these things. Let us not grow weary of walking in righteousness and holiness. Let us have words of praise and trust in the Lord, rather than words of grumbling and complaining. Let us long for him, rather than long for the ‘ease’ of the world.
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