“And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.” (Numbers 11:1 KJV)
Complained. The ESV says, “about their misfortunes”. Isn’t it interesting how when the Lord wants to do something big in us that he first draws out our reflections on our misfortunes? On how things aren’t working out like we had planned. As though it was our plan. As though it was our strength that got us this far. As though all those good things that we thought we had back when we were actually in bondage were good because, why? It’s like God actually helps us to take stock of our present circumstances because he is about to do something bigger than we can imagine.
Bigger than we can imagine is quite literal. Notice in verses 22 and 23 that Moses himself is questioning God’s ability to feed 600,000 + people. Who was it that God just used to deliver the most spectacular signs to date in exiting Egypt? There is something about grumbling that does just the opposite of praise. It’s not the root of a problem, but it locks you into it rather than clarifies the greatness of God.
So, what is it that God wants to do here? He is going to provide a microcosm of what we see later in Acts 2 of God in pouring out his Spirit on many people. He has a great desire to live among us. To indwell our hearts. That we, His people, might really know Him. This also explains that when the people fill themselves with what they desire that is contrary to what God has originally provided that it becomes a curse, a plague, a death to them. Which always begs the question, what can we do to avoid such a mistake? Was the situation really ever about us? Yes, but what we desired was only scratching the surface of what He longed to fill us with. They wanted meat. God poured out His Spirit on 70 people including two that didn’t even show up to where they were told to be. We often find that it’s not so much in how we can manage to avoid something as it turns out to be an opportunity to wholeheartedly surrender, and to openly praise God for the wonders of what he is doing.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV)