Steven A. Bush - June 11, 2023
A Quail Force Wind Leaves A Foul Taste
When God delivered His children from bondage in Egypt, the journey to the Promised Land should've taken 11 days. That's according to Moses in Deuteronomy 1:2. But we know it took 40 years. Why? Unbelief. Israel doubted God who, after numerous miracles, delivered them from 4 centuries of slavery. Another sad trait among God's people in the wilderness was their complaining. It was relentless. Their sin was rooted in not trusting in the Lord their God, Yahweh Elohim. A time came when the people became ungrateful for God's daily provision of manna. They craved meat instead. They vented their craving with anger and tears. They foolishly reminisced with fondness their slave rations back in Egypt, some even suggesting they go back. God became indignant and decided to teach His meat-craving people a lesson. He called in quail in outlandish numbers and they hovered 3 feet off the ground for miles around. The people gathered it up, cooked it up, and then became violently ill to the point that many died. Israel had romanticized their former life of slavery while amplifying the challenges of their newfound freedom. They had escaped the bonds of a super power but dismissed the supreme power of Almighty God! As Christians, delivered from sin and death and hell, we dare not do the same! Romans 8:32 should serve as a humble reminder: "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?" (ESV) Our Lord's hands that give and His hands that withhold are equally beautiful. Our privileged role is to trust Him with all of our hearts...
Scripture References: Numbers 11:1-35, Mark 9:38-41, Romans 8:31-32