The Israelites Get Tired of Manna (Numbers12)

When the Ark of the Covenant was finally completed, they placed it inside a large tent. God would hover over the tent like a cloud in the daytime and like a flame a night. So day or night the Israelites would know that God was with them.
 Finally, after over a year of camping near Mount Sinai, the cloud of God began to move and the Israelites packed up everything and followed. All this time God was still sending manna from heaven every night and the people would gather it for food every morning. They traveled for three days until they reached a place called Paran. And no matter where they were. God provided food for them.
 Some of the people were beginning to get tired of eating manna every day.
“When we were in Egypt, we ate fish, cucumbers, melons and onions. Now all we get is manna manna manna!” The people complained.

Isn’t it funny that no matter how bad it used to be, we always think it was better before. The Israelites were slaves! But all they could think about was the variety of food they had.
“We want meat! We want meat! The people began to chant. Soon the whole camp was in an uproar.
Moses went to God. “I’ve had with these people. All they ever do is complain and moan!” He was getting very aggravated with them. God was getting angry too.  So he sent a fireball and burned all the trees around the camp. The people were frightened but they still complained to Moses. Moses told God that he needed help with the people.
 God told Moses to bring Him 70 men and that He would put the Holy Spirit upon them so that they could help Moses lead the people. When God put the Holy Spirit on them, it was to help them do something special. God could take the Spirit off them when they were finished or whenever He wanted. Today (if we accepted Jesus as the master of our life and savior of our souls) we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us so that we can do special things for God. God has sealed us with the Spirit, which means that once we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, He is there for good! Isn’t that great to know!

 God also told Moses that He would give the people meat, but He warned them that what they were asking for was not a good thing. So the next morning when the people awoke. There were birds called quail flying close to ground for miles and miles. Everyone started to catch the birds. Everyone gathered at least 50 baskets full of quail! The people ate and ate and ate until they could eat no more. Then the next day they ate some more! After a couple of days, the meat on the birds started to rot and it caused a sickness that killed many Israelites. They named that place the "graves of cravings”. The people realized that God knew best and that asking for meat was not very smart. God really does know best. Because He sees all and knows all.
After three days the Israelites traveled to a place called Hazeroth. While they were there Moses’ brother Aaron and his sister Miriam began to get jealous of their brother.
“How come God only talks to Moses and not to us!” Aaron said to Miriam.
Remember we said that God sees all and knows all? He also hears all! He heard Aaron and Miriam.

God called Moses, Aaron and Miriam to a meeting inside the tent and He scolded Aaron and Miriam. “I spoke to the prophets through dreams and visions, but I choose to speak to Moses face to face. When you talk about Moses behind his back, you are talking about me!” God was furious. Then the cloud lifted from the tent and God departed. Aaron looked at his sister. “Miriam!” He screamed. “Your face and your hands! They are as white as snow!” She had a deadly disease called leprosy. Moses cried out to God. “Please heal my sister!” God told Moses to tell Miriam to stay away from everyone for 7 days .

The Israelites waited 7 days. Miriam was cured and they left Hazeroth.

We can learn a few things form this story.
1. When we are moving toward God and His plan for our life, we should’t look back and wish things were like the “old days”. (Phil 3:13)
2. Sometimes we pray and ask God for the wrong things. God knows what is best for us. We should pray for God to give us what He knows is best for us. (James 4:3)
3. God knows all. God sees all. And God hears all. (Hebrews 4:13)
4. God doesn’t like complaining, moaning or grumbling. (Phil 2:14)