Numbers 11:23, commentary and pictures

The Lord spoke to Moses when He promised flesh for a whole month to six hundred thousand footmen until it became loathsome to them, because they despised Him and murmured for Egypt. Moses doubted how such a hungry multitude could be fed, asking whether slaying the flocks and herds or gathering all the fish of the sea could suffice them. The answer means His hand has not waxed short, diminished, or become insufficient, and His spoken word will certainly come to pass so that Moses would now see it fulfilled. It rebukes manifest distrust and forgetfulness of past miracles, for nothing is impossible with the great Ruler of the universe who divided the Red Sea, rained bread from heaven, and brought water out of the flinty rock, and it exposes feeble faith that believes only what can be seen. Israel had been given the healthy food designed for them, bread from heaven described as angels' food and purest water from the rock, yet they despised the manna, lusted for meat and longed for Egypt, so God in anger gave them quails in abundance for a whole month, then struck them with wrath and plague while the meat was yet between their teeth, slaying thousands, which shows He is displeased when His people let appetite control them.

Setting and Meaning

The question was spoken to Moses when God promised to give flesh for a whole month to six hundred thousand footmen until it became loathsome to them, because they despised the Lord and murmured for Egypt. Moses doubted how such a hungry multitude could be fed and asked whether slaying the flocks and herds for them or gathering all the fish of the sea for them could suffice them. God's answer means His power has not diminished, failed, or become insufficient and His spoken word will certainly come to pass, and that Moses would now see the promise fulfilled.

The question rebukes Moses for manifest distrust and forgetfulness of past miracles. It teaches that nothing is impossible with the great Ruler of the universe. The same God who divided the Red Sea and made the waters stand like walls on either side while Israel passed through on dry land, who rained bread from heaven and sent manna, and who brought water out of the flinty rock, could also provide meat for the whole host.

The verse exposes feeble faith that limits belief to what can be seen and doubts God beyond sight. Moses' doubt is like that of Philip when asked how to buy bread for five thousand.

Appetite, Judgment, and Application

God had brought Israel out of Egyptian bondage to prove them and take them as His peculiar treasure, giving them freely the healthy food He designed for them while withholding meat in great measure though not prohibiting it. He rained bread from heaven, giving manna as angels' food that would have proved a blessing and best preserved their health, and gave the purest water out of the flinty rock. He covenanted to put no disease upon them if they obeyed Him in all things.

They did not trust Him to give the food that would best preserve health, were not satisfied with manna but despised it, and cried and lusted for meat. They murmured against Moses and against God, longing and mourning for flesh and wishing themselves back in Egypt where they could sit by the flesh pots. They preferred slavery and even death rather than be deprived of meat.

In anger at their unbelief and lustful appetite He answered by promising flesh and giving them their own desire, granting that vast multitude quails in abundance for a whole month to gratify them. Their eating in lust was followed by His wrath for rebellion and discontent while the meat was yet in their mouths and between their teeth. The curse came upon them with no miracle worked to preserve life, so they reaped the result of transgression when plague destroyed thousands of their number. Great numbers died in the act of eating the meat for which they had lusted, slaying the fattest and the chosen men of Israel.

The verse thus shows He is displeased when His people let appetite control them. It warns to work at becoming health reformers through temperance in eating and drinking, so as to have clearer minds to discern what does and does not affect the salvation of the soul. Israel's wilderness failure did not mean He lacked power to lead His chosen people to Canaan.