Psalm 106:15 – “And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into
their soul.”
Today’s Old Testament reading in Psalms is a commentary on a significant event in Israel’s history recorded in Numbers chapter 11. The Israelites have had manna descend upon their dwellings at night as a sign of God’s supernatural provision in their lives. There is a segment of the population, called the “mixed multitude” in verse 4, “riffraff” in the Jewish Study Bible, who complain about the bland diet and a lack of meat on God’s menu. This group joined Israel when they left Egypt according to Exodus 12:38 and were more than likely individuals of other enslaved groups who were disenchanted with Egypt’s treatment of them and became enamored by the miraculous displays of Israel’s God. Their complaint begins to infect the congregation, to the point that verse 10 says, “Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was greatly aroused…” God’s answer? Give ‘em what they want! You want meat? Meat you shall have! Verses 19 and 20 say, “You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 20but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, 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?’” Many people died as a result and the place was named Kibroth-hattaavah, which means “the graves of craving.”
They got what they wanted but missed what they needed. Be careful lest you desire something so much that you push beyond the limits and cross the line. You may end up getting what you’re craving but is it God’s best?
Is it what you really need? Once you get it you may end up despising it and on top of that, the condition of your soul becomes perilous. It’s just not worth it in the end.