The Israelites Murmur
“And the mixed multitude that was amongst them, fell a lusting, and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, who will give us flesh to eat?
“We remember the flesh, which we did eat in Egypt freely, the cucumbers and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic.
“But now our soul is dried away, there is nothing at all besides this manna before our eves.”
The children of Israel are encamped at Taberah their twelfth station, where several remarkable things occurred; and we commence with the consideration of the people’s discontent, its cause, manner of expression, and effect.
The people are discontented, they murmur, complain, and weep. They are dissatisfied with the whole affair. And why? of what are they in want? They become impatient, and their whole guidance seems very tedious and laborious to them. But were they completely in the wrong in so doing? It is true, they
228 THE ISRAELITES MURAfUR.
were the people of God. They were the peculiar object of his most especial superintendence and care. This was an uncommon privjlege, for which, however, if I may so speak, they paid dearly enough, and were compelled to put every thing to the stake. “We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter” — says the Apostle, quoting from the Psalms, and establishes it as a rule, that “through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God;” even as our Lord himself declares, that he who will be his disciple, must take up his cross daily; and again, his Apostle says, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution.” “Many are the afflictions of the righteous;” and the resolution to deny ourselves continually, to lose our own lives, to assent continually to whatever the Lord chooses to lay upon us — is saying very much.
The poor people were now in a waste-howling wilderness. Nothing presented itself in the way of food, but that which descended from heaven, which lasted only for a day, and they had water only by a miracle from the rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. The eye was tired of resting upon the horrible uniformity of the boundless waste around it, which produced only here and there a solitary thorn or brier. Not a trace of any previous traveller. No pleasing sound delighted the ear: No turtle dove cooed its melancholy note, no lark soared warbling aloft, as if to point the way to the repenting mind. Nothing but an occasional howl was heard. Sometimes a solitary pelican sounded its harah and grating note, or the roar of hungry lions and the growls of blood-thirsty tigers and hyenas, struck the ear from a distance, and excited a feeling of horror. The Israelites had been accustomed to something very diflferent. In the pleasant land of Goshen, the case had been otherwise — fruitfulness and pleasing scenery, fields, gardens, and meadows, rivers, and pools, .abounded every where. Unhappily, they began to draw comparisons, and by these, an evil or a good is either made greater or less. If a great good is compared with one still greater, it loses in our estimation; and so it is with an evil. If we reflect that it might be much worse, it becomes more tolerable. But when the evil is compared with the opposite good, it becomes more grievous, even as black laid upon white appears still blacker. In hell, the rich glutton thought a drop of water a good blessing, who previously would not have esteemed the most costly wine as such. If the sight of the misery of Lazarus had contributed to increase his enjoyment when on earth, by comparing his own health and ease with it — so the sight of the glory he enjoyed in heaven must have increased his torment.
The children of Israel also drew a comparison. But what kind of one? In the burning desert, they call to mind the cooling cucumbers, and the juicy, pleasant, and well-flavoured water-melons. The thought of these things,- it must be confessed, may well make the mouth water whilst traversing the burning sand. The Egyptian fish came also unfortunately to mind, as well as the savoury leeks, onions, and garlic. There they had them for nought — here nothing of the kind was to be had, even for its weight in gold.
Let us not be unjust towards them, but confess that the temptation was not a small one to flesh and blood.
In one respect there was nothing sinful in the idea, that they would gladly now have gathered up the melons, which perhaps in Egypt they had trampled under foot, and have considered the fish as a dainty which there they disregarded. But this became sin to them, because they desired them in an inordinate, violent manner, and out of, nay even in opposition to the divine order. What did they not lose sight of in doing so? was not Canaan promised them, where they should have these things in abundance? Should they therefore refuse to wait a little longer, since in the course of a few days or weeks they might arrive there, seeing that they were travelling towards it, and had already accomplished more than half the distance — not considering that they were the people, from whom was to come salvation, and out of whom a seed should rise up, in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed — not considering that what they endured and were deprived of, would be to their own advantage, and that of the whole world — not reflecting that they were really not in want of any thing necessary. Did God, his guidance, his promise, and his will appear to them of so little value, and melons, onions, and garlic all to them? Was every thing forgotten, which had been done to them and for them? How disgustingly does their gloomy, earthly and carnal-minded ness manifest itself! They imagine themselves in extreme misery.
And how dreadful must the state of similarly minded individuals eventually be, who cling with their whole soul to earthly and sensual objects, neither knowing nor desiring any thing better, when once they are called into eternity, where they will meet with not the smallest thing after which they long, and where they will consequently sink into utter destitution! — But the saints also long for juicy fruits whilst travelling through the desert. And of what kind? Such as grow in the heavenly Canaan. Their souls thirst, it is true; but it is after the living God. “When,” is their language, “when shall I appear before him!” Yet something inordinate may insinuate itself, even here. Paul would gladly have been freed from the thorn in the flesh; but he was obliged to accommodate himself to it, and let grace suffice him.
Who would not always be willing to enjoy cooling fruit? Who would not gladly continually bear about with him a cheerful assurance of the favour of God? Who would not gladly have his heart continually filled with love to God and to the Lord Jesus? Who would not willingly always feel, that the Lord was mighty in his weakness? Who would not gladly dispense with outward sufferings and inward trials; or else, if kept in them, be not only patient in tribulation, but even glory in it? In this respect also it is necessary that we deny ourselves, and this is perhaps a species of self-denial, which is totally impracticable without the Lord’s special assistance. Better it is, however, to renounce the idea of eating fruit in the desert, for bread merely is promised to be given us and that our water shall be sure. However, we may still occasionally reach a grove of palms, and finally arrive at Canaan.
But the worst of all was, that the discontented people were even dissatisfied with the heavenly manna. “Our soul is dried away,” said they, “we see nothing but this manna before us.” Disgusting expression of the corruption of the human heart! They tread the goodness of God under foot, as it were, and cast it from them with disdain. Their descendants acted in the same manner towards him, of whom the manna was a type, and who presented himself to them as the living bread, that giveth life unto the world. *
And do not we tread exactly in their steps, although we call ourselves Christians? The simple and saving doctrines of the gospel are loathed as light food, and the wisdom and power of man is attempted to be set up in the place of Christ. Hence Paul felt constrained to warn true Christians not to be carried away from the simplicity which is in Christ, nor to be moved about by every wind of doctrine. And this admonition is especially needful in our day.
There was something very peculiar with respect to the manna, especially that it could be kept over the Sabbath, but on other days, was found fetid and worm-eaten the next morning It was therefore obliged to be gathered fresh six days in the week, but on the sixth day, a double quantity for the Sabbath, on which day, none fell. Now this might not be a very difficult matter, yet it placed them in a state of great dependance, which is just the reverse of what nature seeks. The temptation in paradise was, “ye shall be as gods,” and it succeeded. Such is the tendency of our nature still, which obeys only from necessity.
The divine commands alone are not able to render human nature, which is compared to a hard and insensible stone, sort, pliant, and tractable. On the contrary, they bring its obstinacy to light. The Scriptures say, to be carnally-minded is to ‘be at enmity with God, and that the carnal mind cannot be rendered subject to the law of God. Nor can the life of the Christian, generally speaking, be agreeable to nature, because of its constant and ever increasing dependance upon God and his grace. Doubtless, it would have better pleased the Israelites, if they had not for years together been equally poor every morning. But God had intentionally so arranged it.. It did not lay in the nature of the manna, that it only kept a day, otherwise it would not have remained good from Friday till Sunday. And this divine arrangement had doubtless its object; which could be no other, than to preserve the children of Israel in a state of continual dependance upon the Lord, and to exercise them in fixing their hopes entirely in him. He that regards this as a rule of easy observance, must be little acquainted with himself. Not merely at the hour when it is required, but beforehand, and that not merely in faith, but in real possession, is what all desire. We would rather be perfect in ourselves than in Christ. But if thou wilt be a true disciple of Jesus, provide thyself only with an empty vessel, and habituate thyself to spiritual poverty. Establish within thee a firm confidence, that the strong young lions shall suffer hunger, sooner than that they, who fear the Lord, shall want any good thing. Learn to understand that great and evangelical expression- — “as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing all things.” The needful manna will not be wanting, though it may not fall in abundance. If thou continuest poor, and seest thyself beset with difficulties on every side, let his grace be sufficient for thee; for his strength is powerful in the weak.
But to what lengths did the children of Israel carry their discontent? It is said, “they sat down and wept.” For what reason? On account of the circumstances in which they were placed, their want of melons and flesh meat. This was being deeply afflicted, and yet ail about earthly things! But such is also the case with the worldly-minded. What makes them glad, but earthly things! What causes them grief, but earthly things! What calls their powers into activity? The same motive; whilst every thing respecting their soul’s salvation gives them no concern. True it is, that even real Christians may mourn over earthly and temporal objects; for they are not stones. Jesus himself wept at the grave of Lazarus. But they moderate their grief, and humble themselves under the will of God. They have other and superior objects, which cause them joy as well as sorrow, for they are spiritually-minded.
The grief of the Israelites degenerated even into a repugnance against God, and into rebellion. According to Psalm lxxviii. they not only asked, “Who will give us flesh to eat?” but, with incredible audacity, challenged him, saying, “Is God able to spread a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also, can he provide flesh for his people?” But these were wicked thoughts and abominable expressions, highly derogatory to God. It was monstrously irrational to allow that God had performed one miracle, and to regard another as impossible; since it was an easy matter to him, as the result showed, to give them flesh in abundance, without working a direct’ miracle. Would it not have been very natural to have thought thus: — “He who could give water out of the barren rock, can also give us flesh in the desert, if he pleases.” And what seems easier than such a conclusion? Is man so wicked and blinded, that he is even incapable of reasoning- thus? For why should we not extend this particular case to mankind in general, since the Apostle expressly says, in 1 Cor. x. 6, that these things, were for an example for us? Do we act in a better manner? Christ says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” But do not the children of men act as if this did not in the least concern them, without deducing a single motive from it for their own government? “Repent!” it is said. But how often and how long has this been said, without their asking themselves, “What am I doing?” “Seek first the kingdom of God,” it is said. But who troubles himself about it? They have no ear to hear, no eye to see, nor any heart to understand; and to this day the Lord has not given it them, otherwise they would act very differently.
But you, whose hearts are not yet hardened, call to mind that God spared not his only begotten Son, but gave him up for you; the inference you ought to draw from this is, “How shall he not with him also freely give us all things!” Do you make this deduction? It is said, “He careth for you.” Do you, therefore, cast all your care upon him? What degree of power has his word in you? 0 Lord! quicken me according to thy word! Amen.