5 The Craving

Read Numbers 11:4-35 (especially 4-15, 18-24, 31-34), Psalm 78:7-37, and 1 Corinthians 10:1-12.

The Israelites had been in the Wilderness for about a year. In another year, they would have the chance to enter the Promised Land.

They were tired of manna. The people wept and asked for something impossible – meat. It started with a small group. The rabble stirred up the rest of the people to say, “give us meat.” This was the craving.

Remember, Eve felt ta'ăvâ about the fruit that would put good and evil inside. The phrase in Numbers 11:4 that describes the craving is two words, 'āvâ and ta'ăvâ. Together, they say, 'they craved the craving.' The group of Israelites who got everyone else to go along had that kind of craving.

Psalm 78:17-20 describes the people’s choice this way:

But they sinned even more against Him
By rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness.
And they tested God in their heart
By asking for the food of their fancy.
Yes, they spoke against God:
They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
Behold, He struck the rock,
So that the waters gushed out,
And the streams overflowed.
Can He give bread also?
Can He provide meat for His people?”

“Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?” This phrase was a provocation. Of course, he can. As the Psalm points out, he had done so many miracles up to that point. They were rescued from slavery by the plagues. The cloud and the fire led them. They had miracle food.

This was one of the most exciting times in history. They should have been content and excited about what God was doing. Instead, the Israelites decided to challenge God to see if he would do what they were asking. They tested him.

The Israelites used deceptive statements to justify their craving. They said their strength had dried up because of their lack of meat. That couldn’t have been true. “Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full.” (Psalm 78:25, NKJV) It didn’t leave people wasting away. It left them robust.[1] The manna was sufficient, “to the full.”[2] Manna had it all.

The people also said that the food was better in Egypt. If the cost of getting that better food is slavery, is it worth it? They seemed to think so.

The situation reached a point that required action. God was provoked.[3]

God solved the people's problem by giving them birds from the sea.[4] God gave them what they were asking for, but they wouldn't end up liking it. It would be coming “out of your nostrils” (v. 20).

God was eager to show Israel that he was their God. Providing birds from the sea for 600,000 men, plus women and children, was an absolute miracle. It was an enormous number of birds, two cubits deep and as long as a day's walk. The people had to stay up all day, all night, and another day just to collect them. This was their month's supply.

Psalm 78:26-31 says it happened like this:

He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens;
And by His power He brought in the south wind.
He also rained meat on them like the dust,
Feathered fowl like the sand of the seas;
And He let them fall in the midst of their camp,
All around their dwellings.
So they ate and were well filled,
For He gave them their own desire.
They were not deprived of their craving;
But while their food was still in their mouths,
The wrath of God came against them,
And slew the stoutest of them,
And struck down the choice men of Israel.

God didn't stop the craving or try to talk them out of it. He gave them over to it. Then, God killed the rabble who craved the craving as they chewed. These were the stoutest among them.[5] God called the place “the graves of the craving.” The rest of the month, the meat would remind Israel of those who died. The ones who lived would be sick of the birds from the sea.

There is no record of Israel complaining about manna again. Perhaps Israel adjusted and found some degree of contentment with their situation.

Numbers 11:20 says the Israelites would have consequences “because you have despised the LORD who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, ‘Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?’” Rejecting manna and rejecting the escape from Egypt was the same as saying, “We reject you, God.” That’s the problem with discontentment and complaining.

Craving the craving is just one side of the coin. The other side of the coin is what wasn't sought. It is the miracles, the goodness of God, the reasons to be thankful, the wonder of all God has made and done, and remembering all of it.

Parallels for Jesus Followers

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul told the Corinthians that they weren’t that different from Israel in their potential to be fools. New believers had an experience that was parallel to Israel's.

The believers were immersed in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, like Israel was immersed in the cloud and the sea. The Spirit of God sustained the new believers, thanks to the body of Jesus, just as the Israelites ate miraculous food. Both drank from the miraculous Spirit of God given water – Israel from the Rock and new believers from the living water.

Israel got all of that, but didn't please God. The new believers risked not pleasing God, too. What was the main issue? How was one to walk with Christ according to 1 Corinthians 10? If the Israelites should have been content, then the Corinthian believers should have been content. They weren’t to complain.

The Israelites rejected miracle food, spiritual food, which was, in turn, the same as or similar to rejecting Jesus. How could that be? They were rejecting the events that foreshadowed his coming, which was similar to rejecting the future event itself. If a person is willing to reject manna that is delivered from the cloud of the presence of God to the ground, then he is just as willing to reject Jesus.

Israel wasn’t satisfied with the spiritual food (manna) they were given. How much better is the spiritual food we have been given! The Israelites saw themselves and their wants as the center of their purpose. They missed the wonderful message of truth all around them. Believers shouldn’t trade the wonderful message of truth for craving and complaining.

Take Aways

We learn a lot about food sin in these passages. Food sin is taking the pettiest view of food, complaining that nourishment wasn’t enough. Complaining that food should taste good. These are the kinds of things that displease God.

Let’s break it down into observations about the Israelites and consider how those observations might apply directly to our thoughts, attitudes, and actions.

They had a craving problem.

Sin itself started with Eve's craving. In Numbers 11, the rabble craved the craving. The Israelites were dissatisfied and longed for other food besides manna. Their eyes were gazing elsewhere, wanting ‘the other.’

What is ‘the other’ to us? It is something other than what God gives and believes is best for us. Whether it is food, entertainment, scrolling, shopping, or some other longing, it is when we have misplaced our affections.

What does the craving look like in our lives, especially when it comes to eating? Craving is seeking food for the thrill of the taste, smell, or texture. Craving is the opposite of being content and seeking food for energy.

In craving, priorities are all messed up for the sake of satisfying our own desires. We want more than what we need, more often than we need it. Essentially, we want a mouth party. Then, the trivial swallows up the important.

Craving is common to mankind. If we are human, then we should expect it. For us, the first step is to identify that feeling of craving. Do you know what it feels like to start craving? The second step is to turn the corner to good judgment and contentment. We could say or think something like, “That seems like it would taste good, but I am trying to be satisfied with simpler things.” The secret, according to 1 Timothy 6, is to put our hope in heaven, not things of earth. “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6, NKJV)

The consequence for the craving was serious in Numbers 11. The ones who craved the most ended up dead. Many people who crave today do harm to their bodies, but the craving also steals their peace. We should stay out of the figurative or literal “graves of the craving.” Don’t let craving kill you, and don’t let it tarnish your testimony as a Jesus follower.

They had a complaining problem.

“Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent”

Numbers 11:10a, NKJV

Complaining is a big deal to God. Remember, the main warning of 1 Corinthians was that the people were not to complain.

How do we complain today?

If we are on a diet, do we complain about it? Do we long for the day it is over? Do we complain that we can’t eat what we used to be able to eat? Or, do we complain, “You're lucky. You’re young. You can eat anything you want.” When our friend goes for dessert, and we can‘t because we know we don’t need as many calories, do we grumble inside?

When we start to complain in our minds, we should realize that our hearts are no longer focused on the Lord, his faithfulness, and his provision. We know what to do then. We live by faith. We worship, we begin to line our emotions up with the truth, and we express thankfulness for the true bread of life.

Let’s not stand by the door of our tent and wail. Let’s live by faith.

They spoke in a way that promoted craving.

We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes! Numbers 11:5-6, NKJV

Speaking a certain way about food and craving went together. Consider the Israelites' exaggeration. They said the food was so much better in Egypt, implying that they wanted to go back for the food. (They said they wanted to go back in Exodus 16:3 and Numbers 14:4.) For food, they would go back to Egypt, where they were slaves and where their children had been murdered. It definitely wasn’t “fish at no cost.” How absurd it was to want food so much.

How do we speak about food? Do we praise it or exaggerate? Do we talk about food in a way that ignores the consequences of eating too much of it? If our goal is to stop craving, it is possible that changing the way we speak will make a huge difference.

We might say, “Yum, this is so, so good!” Or, “I can’t wait to get back to town to get some pizza!” Or, “You have to try her cinnamon rolls. They are the best!” We literally have a saying about food that “It is to die for!” Wow. This kind of exaggeration may promote craving in our minds. You will be surprised how checking your language will help in checking your heart when it comes to food sin.

When we say, "This is so good," do we put ourselves in the place of the rabble of Israel? Do we encourage others to be obsessed with taste? Our example matters. Our friends and peers, children, and extended family are watching and listening.

If we control ourselves, we will start to realize how odd food-praise is. Why do people go on and on about what their taste buds are experiencing? It is strange, and there are so many more valuable things to think and talk about. When everyone else is talking about the food, we should be the ones to talk about something more valuable: “Tell me what's most important to you these days.”

They had deeper rebellion issues.

They did seek him, even earnestly, but in the end, they spoke flattery to God with their mouth, but it was a lie. They didn't respect his commands. Unfortunately, the Israelites' “heart was not steadfast with Him.” Psalm 78:36-37[6]

They didn’t just reject manna. They “despised the LORD” when they craved food (Numbers 11:20), "and they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy." (Psalm 78:18) Craving a certain food was the manifestation of their deeper rebellion. (See also Psalm 106:14, 1 Corinthians 10:6.)

It might be the case for some of us that food craving is one symptom of us not letting Jesus be our Lord, of walking the fence, trying to be a Christian while not wanting to be a stranger in the world.

If you feel like you have a food sin issue, consider going deeper. Ask yourself, “Is this a sign of me not wanting to submit all parts of my life fully to God?” If I'm looking for something else to satisfy my soul, ask, “What does my soul actually need?” Ask God to search your heart.

What is the solution to this rebellion? It starts with loving God. Fearing him. Surrendering to him. Our hearts must be with God. We must respect and adore him above all else. This will squelch our rebellion and lead us to contentment.

Instead of rebelling, jump on board. Agree that all his ways are best. Seek him and don't stop.

Post It

If the Israelites weren't content with eating the same perfectly nutritious meal day after day, if they had to have special foods and variety over time, they were looking at food the wrong way.

Keep the points you’ve learned from Numbers 11 in a place where they will help you most, like in the kitchen. It might look like this:

1. Crave only God.

2. Don’t complain.

3. Don’t promote craving.

Reflection & Discussion Questions

1. What is the craving? How do you keep from it?

2. How can we foster contentment with food from day to day?

3. How have you exaggerated about food? On what kind of occasion is it most likely to happen?

4. How could we lead others astray in regards to food?

[1] A more accurate understanding of Psalm 78:31 might be ‘the bread from the sky’ (from the presence of God), ‘for the mighty or the robust.’ The Hebrew 'abîr isn’t translated angel in any other verse. It means “strong one.”

[2] See also, Psalm 105:40.

[3] When these passages talk about the “anger of the Lord” (Numbers 11:10, 33, Psalm 78:21), the Hebrew word is 'ap̄, and it means nose. The idea is that a certain thing was communicated by the nose. Our understanding of the phrase has to take into account that God doesn’t flare his nostrils, breathe heavy, or snort. The Lord became provoked is a more accurate representation. He saw the Israelites' decision to complain coming. The weeping didn’t set him off. Instead, the situation required action.

[4] Exodus 16 does not use the phrase a bird from the sea. It may have been a different type of bird.

[5] Literally, the phrase says that God killed the fat among them, but the word meaning fat was used figuratively for one who was vigorous or thriving. They were fat as opposed to being emaciated.

[6] Jesus may allude to this verse in Matthew 15:8.