They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
The verse belongs to the wilderness account in which the demand for flesh was granted and became a curse rather than a blessing. Manna, the angels' food, would have blessed the people and best preserved their health, but it was despised because there was no trust that God would give the right food, and meat was cried for instead. To be not estranged from lust while meat was yet in the mouths means that craving continued even while eating. Receiving the food lusted after did not satisfy them or turn them from their desire. Even with the provision desired still in their mouths they kept craving food.
God gave them their own desire after their complaints and crying for meat, until they ate and were filled. While they were still eating, His wrath came upon them in judgment. The judgment killed the fattest of them and struck down the chosen men of Israel. Many died while eating what they had demanded, even thousands, with disease and death from the use of the meat granted after complaint. Refusal to accept the food God provided and insistence on meat led to dissension, sickness, and death.
Their craving expressed constant working against a good God through disobedience as temptation, self-indulgence and self-gratification. It showed disregard for His provision and restrictions, and complaining in trial while forgetting God as the source of strength. It was a poor return for rich blessings and for all His benefits. Their persistence in lust and the punishment that came even as they were eating was the sure result of their own course of action. The rebuke and chastisement brought repentance, only to fall again when tempted. Self-indulgence leads to physical and mental decline, whereas obedience in denying appetite would have preserved strength and judgment.
Their history warns against murmuring at God's requirements, choosing one's own course, and rebelling against the light received. In contrast stand those who fully receive truth of heavenly origin, are sanctified through it, and with Christ abiding in them and they in Him keep advancing in the divine life instead of complaining as Israel did.
The verse belongs to the wilderness account in which the demand for flesh was granted and became a curse rather than a blessing. Manna, the angels' food, would have blessed the people and best preserved their health, but it was despised because there was no trust that God would give the right food, and meat was cried for instead. To be not estranged from lust while meat was yet in the mouths means that craving continued even while eating. Receiving the food lusted after did not satisfy them or turn them from their desire. Even with the provision desired still in their mouths they kept craving food.
God gave them their own desire after their complaints and crying for meat, until they ate and were filled. While they were still eating, His wrath came upon them in judgment. The judgment killed the fattest of them and struck down the chosen men of Israel. Many died while eating what they had demanded, even thousands, with disease and death from the use of the meat granted after complaint. Refusal to accept the food God provided and insistence on meat led to dissension, sickness, and death.
Their craving expressed constant working against a good God through disobedience as temptation, self-indulgence and self-gratification. It showed disregard for His provision and restrictions, and complaining in trial while forgetting God as the source of strength. It was a poor return for rich blessings and for all His benefits. Their persistence in lust and the punishment that came even as they were eating was the sure result of their own course of action. The rebuke and chastisement brought repentance, only to fall again when tempted. Self-indulgence leads to physical and mental decline, whereas obedience in denying appetite would have preserved strength and judgment.
Their history warns against murmuring at God's requirements, choosing one's own course, and rebelling against the light received. In contrast stand those who fully receive truth of heavenly origin, are sanctified through it, and with Christ abiding in them and they in Him keep advancing in the divine life instead of complaining as Israel did.