7 August 2023

The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, ‘If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.’

From Numbers 11:4-15, NRSV

The people of Israel had previously complained to Moses about their lack of food in the desert. Moses had sought God’s help and God provided manna from heaven. Now they have become tired of the monotony of this diet and are again complaining to Moses. Even the diet they had as slaves in Egypt was preferable to this. Moses sensed God’s anger with the people and turned to God to express the anguish of his own position. The weight of carrying this nation was too much for Moses alone and he complained about the unfairness of this heavy responsibility. Again, God heard Moses’ prayer and instructed Moses to appoint other leaders to share the responsibility of caring for the people. God also provided meat in the form of quails. However, there was a sting in the tail as there was so much meat that the people ate greedily and became sick.