Meat and Manna

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I love Numbers 11. It's been a tough book to get through so far; we've had census numbers, the duties of the Kohathites and what the Meratites had to carry around. The Jealousy Ritual chapter was interesting I have to admit, but all the numbers had me feeling pretty jaded to this 4th book of the Torah.

And then out of nowhere came Chapter 11. Well, I can't really say out of nowhere because the Israelites had a habit of complaining and bickering, but it still took me by surprise.

But first, I have to make a confession to help with some context. I can totally commiserate with their situation. I once was shamefully tricked into eating a Tofu Burger. I won't mention names, but that first bite and subsequent scarring of my palate was a low point for me. Our first son, Aidan, was born in a hospital that served no meat. Those were dark days. One of my proudest moments as a Father was when Aidan ate, and loved, his very first cheeseburger. He was only two and I took him to Hardees and watched with pride as his face lit up with those first few swallows. (I do shamefully confess that Gavin will pick Chicken Fingers or Nuggets every time, however)

So, when the Israelites cry out, "Who will feed us meat?" I can feel their pain just a little. All they have to look at is this manna stuff. And, to be honest, the description of the manna that follows doesn't exactly get my salivating juices flowing. Coriander seed, Bdelium, and boiled. It really sounds like a rice cake. I recognize and respect that some people are into that, but I would rather eat my flip flops.

Moses' response to the Israelites' complaining about their wilderness menu is priceless. "Lord God, why have you brought this trouble on me?" he says. "These people whine like babies and I really don't feel like I should have to carry them and nurse them all the way to Canaan! Where can I get these people some meat?"

(And this is the story that led to our first and glorious instance of the blessings of delegation, a concept that companies, factories, and churches all over the world have adopted to much merriment and glee for the delegators.)

But the best part is what God tells the people (this is my loose paraphrase): Get ready for tomorrow because you are going to eat meat and I am not happy with you. I will give you meat and you will eat meat like you've never eaten meat before. Did I mention I am not pleased with all of your whining and ridiculous complaining? You're going to eat meat for a whole month. And you're going to eat it till it comes out of your noses and you're sick of it.

So God sends them meat. Quail, in fact. And not just a few quail. There were birds three feet deep blown into their camp. And not just in their camp. There were birds three feet deep a day's journey in each direction from their camp.

The people got what they asked for. Quail coming out their noses and their tents and everywhere else and them struck down with a plague.

Now that I think about this chapter, I'm sorry I ever gave my Mom grief about what she was fixing for dinner, and a salad for supper tonight sounds pretty good. But still no rice cakes, please.