The Disaster of Wrong Desires

“The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, ‘Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.’” Numbers 11:4-6   

“Say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, “Oh that someone would give us meat to eat! For we were well-off in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat and you shall eat. You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, but a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you; because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’” Numbers 11:18-20

“Now there went forth a wind from the Lord and it brought quail from the sea, and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp and about two cubits deep on the surface of the ground. The people spent all day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers) and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very severe plague. So the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had been greedy. From Kibroth-hattaavah the people set out for Hazeroth, and they remained at Hazeroth.” Numbers 11:31-35

Behind the names of many places across America lies a particular tale that led to its distinctive designation. Such was also the case of a stopping point along the route of wandering Israelites during Moses’ day. They called it Kibroth-hattaavah which is the Hebrew rendering for “graves of craving.” Here is a warning for us all.

The Israelites had grown weary of manna. They longed for other food. “Who will give us meat to eat?...There is nothing at all to look at except this manna” (Numbers 11:4, 6). After extended grumbling, God sent them delicious quail. But “While the meat was still between their teeth...the Lord struck the people with a very severe plague. So the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah” (Numbers 11:33-34).

Our wrong desires - physical or emotional appetites that are not aligned with the revealed truths of the Scriptures - just as certainly will wreck havoc. God doesn’t mind our asking for things so long as we filter every desire through His perfect will. It is only then that we are assured of receiving God’s best and not the fruit of our own misguided cravings. “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

You may get what you want, but you may not want what you get.