Numbers 11:20

But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?

Numbers 11:20 (KJV)

Context

The book of Numbers records Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai toward the Promised Land. In this verse, the people complain about hardships in the wilderness and long for the food of Egypt. They have already been delivered from slavery by God’s mighty hand, yet they grumble against Moses and against God Himself. Their complaint is not a small matter; it is a direct rejection of the LORD who is among them. The setting is the desert, where God provides manna daily, but the people despise it and crave what they left behind.

Meaning

God tells the Israelites they will eat meat for a whole month, until it comes out of their nostrils and becomes loathsome. This vivid picture shows that He will give them what they demand, but in a way that reveals the folly of their desire. The verse names the root sin: they have despised the LORD who is among them and wept before Him, asking, “Why came we forth out of Egypt?” Their weeping is not repentance but self-pity, mourning the loss of Egypt’s comforts rather than their own sin. The severity of the judgment shows that God takes their complaint seriously. He will satisfy their craving, but the satisfaction itself will become a punishment.

Biblical connections

Moses later doubts God’s ability to provide meat for six hundred thousand footmen, and God answers, “Is the LORD’S hand waxed short?” (Numbers 11:21-23). This shows that the problem is not God’s power but the people’s unbelief and ingratitude. Their complaint is ultimately a rejection of God’s presence and His deliverance. The same pattern appears throughout Scripture: when God’s people forget His past faithfulness, they begin to grumble and doubt His care. This connection is direct because Moses’ doubt arises immediately after the judgment is pronounced, and it reinforces the lesson that God’s provision is never limited by human circumstances.

Application

This account warns us against a complaining spirit. Discontentment with God’s will is really a rejection of God Himself. When we grumble about our circumstances, we may be despising His provision and presence. We are called to be thankful for what He gives, even in difficult times, and to trust His guidance rather than looking back with longing at a former life of bondage. Guard your heart against the habit of complaining, and instead remember God’s daily mercies. Each day, choose gratitude over grumbling, and let the memory of His past faithfulness shape your present trust.

Reflection

God takes our complaints seriously. He may allow us to experience the consequences of our desires so that we learn their emptiness. Let us examine our own hearts: do we weep over our unmet wants more than over our sin? May we choose gratitude and trust, remembering that God’s plans for us are ultimately for our good, even when we cannot see the outcome.