Numbers 11:4 – “If only we had meat to eat”
(A faith poem by Wain)
Dear God,
Is the Exodus story really true?
How you freed a people long enslaved?
Yet some yearned to return to bondage
Because of the animal food they c_ _ _ _ _?
Why did you send manna from heaven?
Wasn’t there food on earth fit to eat?
And why would anyone choose slavery?
Is freedom a good trade for some m_ _ _?
Why didn’t food from you satisfy?
Were the people being given a test?
Should meat have been on the menu?
Or was bread from heaven the b_ _ _?
Did the people really want slavery?
No freedom, but all the meat they craved?
Or was being controlled by their appetite
Symbolic of them being e_ _ _ _ _ _ _?
Please tell me the truth.
Your servant,
Wain
HOW MIGHT GOD RESPOND?
From ChatGPT as the voice of God:
Dear Wain,
The story of the Exodus is indeed true, and it carries deep lessons about freedom, faith, and human nature. When I freed the Israelites from their long bondage in Egypt, it was to lead them to a new life of freedom and covenant with Me. However, freedom comes with challenges and responsibilities, and often, people can fear the unknown more than they despise their chains.
The Israelites, having lived for generations in slavery, found security in what they knew, even if it was oppressive. The desire to return to Egypt for the food they craved symbolizes a struggle within all humanity: the tension between physical needs and higher spiritual purpose.
Manna from heaven was given as a divine provision, a sustenance to teach them reliance on Me and to wean them from their past dependence on Egypt. It was a lesson in trust, a reminder that life is sustained by more than physical food alone but by the spiritual nourishment that comes from My word.
The dissatisfaction with manna and the longing for meat was indeed a test. It exposed their hearts, showing their struggle to fully embrace their newfound freedom and trust in My provision. This is a common human struggle: to prioritize immediate physical desires over long-term spiritual growth.
True freedom is not just the absence of chains but the ability to live in accordance with higher principles, free from the tyranny of base appetites. The craving for meat, symbolizing a return to what they knew in Egypt, was more than a desire for food; it was a longing for the familiarity of their former life, even in bondage.
In essence, their struggle was symbolic of the broader human condition: the challenge of embracing freedom with all its uncertainties and the temptation to revert to old, familiar ways. The journey through the wilderness was meant to transform and prepare them for the Promised Land, a place of both physical and spiritual abundance.
The truth, dear servant, is that the journey of faith and freedom is often fraught with tests and challenges. It is through these that true growth and transformation occur. Trust in My provision and guidance, and you will find that what I offer is always what you truly need.
With love and wisdom,
God