NOTES for Num 11:1-35

We always need something from God, while He always wants to give us something. Yet all too often our desires do not coincide with His. The parallel events described in this chapter illustrate this very well: the people grumble and demand meat from God, while He wants to give them the Spirit, who can teach them the knowledge of God and the discernment of His will. The request for meat is fairly harmless, and the Lord agrees to grant it. What is far worse is the whole people's readiness to abandon their calling, turn away from the land God promised, and return to Egypt. Is this not why the Spirit descends only upon the chosen few, rather than upon everyone as Moses desires? This is the age-old conflict, the opposition between God and human beings—between God and you and me: instead of the knowledge of the Lord, instead of the Spirit, instead of faithfulness to our calling and to God Himself, we want meat, onions, and Egyptian cucumbers. How can we fail to recall what is written: “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life” (John 6:27).