Taberah

 "And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down. So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned among them. Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost 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."    [Numbers 11:1-6, ESV]
 
 
What an awful thing when God (Who is Jealous), isn't enough to satisfy and delight. Clearly, He was in their (Israel) midst (10:34-36) resting upon the camp day and night, protecting, feeding, warming and supplying every need, all while covering their sins. Could they really be that forgetful? Still, they wanted something more--God, Himself, wasn't enough--that's the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life at work. They wanted what they saw possessed by the pagans around them who had gods of wood and stone. For this, God sent a fire--idolatry is serious and it is a contagion; it spreads like wildfire. So, God sent a fire to combat/consume the murmuring (and, the idolatry that precipitated the complaining along with it). 
 
Today, there is a similar spirit, that exists among God's people--we should have the best and not suffer or have "misfortunes"; when we do we question God's presence among us (declaring people faithless) or we murmur and complain. Are we just as forgetful as Israel was? Is God really enough to satisfy and to delight us--or do we really follow for the fishes and the loaves? 
 
In fact, we are to be tried and "to think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified."
 
Delight thyself in the Lord. Man up; this is par for the course of this earthly race.

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