The Tabernacle was now completed. The Israelites were leaving Sinai. They had just spent the last four or five chapters following the LORD's commands wholeheartedly, and then in chapter 11, they start complaining about their hardships.
God's awesome presentation is another theme in this reading. When God heard their complaining, he "burned" with anger. He sent fire to burn among them. This fire burned and consumed the outskirts of the camp (Num. 11:1). I know I would be terrified to see such a thing happen. It would be like Hell burning all around me. Consuming Hell fire would surround me. I would be terrified.
God seems to use fire as an object lesson to represent himself throughout the Scripture I have read so far. He comes as a pillar of fire at night to lead and watch over the people of Israel. I imagine that in the good times, this was a comfort... the Divine Nightlight. It would remind me of his faithfulness in leading me out of the land of bondage. But now, I would be terrified. I would be surrounded by flame, confusion, and death. It is no wonder "the people cried out to Moses" (Ex. 11: 2). Again, God presents himself as a terrifying force, one that instills fear and trembling, not just reverence.
After this experience, they complain saying that they want meat to eat, not just flatbread manna. So, in a way reminiscent of Dante's Inferno, where sins are punished through ironic suffering, God sends quail in quantities enough to sicken even the most true gluttons. They must eat quail "... for a whole month-until it comes out of [their] nostrils and [they] loathe it-because [they] have rejected the LORD..." In Dante's Inferno sinners were punished according to their sins. For example, those who caused division in the church (schism) were forced for eternity to be cut open and then walk in a circle until they healed up again, where they would be sliced again once they got back to the start of the circle again. Here, the people complained to God, not being thankful for the blessings they had. So God overwhelmed them with what they wanted to the point of sickness. This story serves as a cogent reminder that God will provide what we need and we ought not complain when our needs are met, but rather be thankful for every thread of clothing, every crumb of food, and every drop of water.
Well, that was all I had to say about today's reading. Only 1736 pages to go!
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