Moment in the Word

Numbers 11:31 - Now a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail in from the sea. It scattered them up to two cubits deep all around the camp, as far as a day's walk in any direction.

 

This evening, I visited an elderly lady at supper time. An inviting meal was set before her, and she just glared at it. She wasn't sick and hadn't tasted anything on her plate, but sat back from the edge of the table grumbling about the food's appearance. I personally thought the portions looked very tasty. The fresh food was certainly more appetizing than the leftovers I fed myself for lunch when I cleaned out the last few items in my refrigerator. But honestly, I was happy for what little I had to dull my nagging hunger.

 

Watching the ungrateful woman with a tinge of frustration, I thought of ancient Israel. When they were hungry after escaping Egypt, God fed them a kind of bread that Asaph called "Angel food." (Psalms 78:24-25)

 

The Manna God sent His people foreshadowed today's Eucharistic "host" because Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51)

 

The Angel Food that God's children ate was delicious, "It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey." (Exodus 16:31) Wafers and honey makes me think of those clear containers of holiday cookies with thick, creamy icing... those that are so soft they crumble in your hand. Yummy!

 

Regardless of how good Manna was, Israel soon complained against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our souls despise this flaky bread." (Numbers 21:5)

 

Consequently, the Almighty heard the people griping about all His wonderful care, so He sent them something a little chewier to eat - dead quail, stacked 3-feet-deep (2 cubits) for a distance of nearly 50 miles in every direction around the entire camp.

 

How do we know the little birds were already dead? Well, have you ever tried to stack quail? I've raised quail before, and I can guarantee you, "Living quail don't stack!"

 

How do we know the people were trapped by dead quail for almost 50 miles in every direction? Let's ask AI about the walking distance of a day's journey, "A fit person can walk 20 miles or more. A trained hiker can walk over 30 miles." I assure you that after escaping Egypt to enter the Sinai Wilderness, the people of Israel were "trained hikers!"

 

Due to Israel's raunchy attitude, God presented His people with two options:

 

1. Sit tight in the hot Wilderness and eat quail that were dead when they hit the ground... until 30 miles of rotting meat are finally consumed... or...

 

2. Make a run for it, wading through 3-feet of spoiled quail until you finally reach the farthest edge, 30 miles away!

 

Either way, you're going to be eating lots of quail. Boy, those flaky, holiday cookies with thick, creamy icing sure look good about now... and that heavenly Manna does too! But just remember this, before the entire group got to where they were all going on the other side of the rotting mess, people were dropping dead with their mouths filled with meat, and now you know why. Nasty! (Numbers 11:33)

 

Yeah, you now see the stinking problem that arises from ingratitude, and that's also the way a resentful heart smells to God!

 

In conclusion, let's remember the words of St. Paul, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

 

Why?

 

Because greedy, unthankful people fall into temptation and are "trapped" by many foolish and harmful desires that "plunge them into ruin and destruction" (1 Timothy 6:9) - similar to 3-feet of rotting quail that stretches in every direction for nearly 50 miles.

 

So, whatever God provides, always be thankful for what He dishes out, "Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits... Who satisfies my mouth with good things, So that my youth is renewed like the eagle's." (Psalms 103:1-2 & 5)

 

Amen