“And there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day’s journey on this side, and as it were a day’s journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.”
This verse is part of a larger narrative in the book of Numbers that recounts the experiences of the Israelites during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. In this specific passage, the Israelites had been grumbling and complaining about their diet in the wilderness. They were tired of eating manna and desired meat, reminiscing about the variety of food they had in Egypt. Their discontentment reached a point where Moses became overwhelmed and expressed his frustration to the Lord.
In response to Moses’ plea, God promises to provide meat for the Israelites. He instructs Moses to gather seventy of the elders and bring them to the tabernacle. God says that He will come down and speak with Moses, and then He will take some of the Spirit that is upon Moses and put it upon the seventy elders. God also assures Moses that the people will eat meat for an entire month until it becomes “loathsome” to them.
Numbers 11:31 describes the fulfillment of God’s promise. A strong wind sent by the Lord blew in quails from the sea, surrounding the Israelite camp. The quails were so numerous that they were spread out for a day’s journey on each side of the camp and were about two cubits (approximately three feet) high on the ground. This abundance of quail was a miraculous provision from God, supplying the Israelites with the meat they had desired.
It’s important to note that while God granted their request, the response of the Israelites to the provision of quail became a lesson in itself. In the subsequent verses (Numbers 11:32-35), we learn that even though the quail was abundant, the people’s gluttony and lack of self-control led to their downfall. They indulged themselves in excessive eating, and as a result, a great plague struck the camp, causing the deaths of those who had craved and consumed the meat.
This story serves as a reminder of the Israelites’ lack of faith and contentment, as well as the consequences of their actions. Despite their initial complaints, God provided for their immediate needs. However, their greed and lack of self-restraint resulted in punishment from the Lord.
Overall, Numbers 11:31 highlights the miraculous provision of God for the Israelites’ request for meat, but it also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of discontentment and the importance of exercising self-control and gratitude.
