The history of Israel demonstrates that they were often a people of doubt and rebellion against God. But that is also the history of all of God’s people. This passage shows how disbelief and disobedience makes God angry and leads to judgment. Yet, the Lord is always merciful when His people return to Him.

What Does It Say?

1. The Israelites asked if God could give them bread and flesh, but when God heard this, He was __________.
2. They doubted the God who had commanded the clouds from above and had opened the _________ of heaven.
3. To show His power, the Lord rained flesh upon them as _________.
4. In judgment, God consumed their days in __________, and their years in ___________.
5. After they were judged, God’s people returned to Him and remembered that God was their __________.

What Does It Mean?

1. When the Israelites questioned God, He was angry with them because “they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation” (v.22). Even after His wrath came upon them, “they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works” (v.32). It seems as though God became angrier because of their lack of belief than He did because of their words or actions. Why do you think this is so? How does this match the way Christ dealt with His disciples? See Matthew 6:30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
   See All...; Matthew 8:26And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
   See All...; Matthew 14:31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
   See All...; Matthew 16:8Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
   See All...; Matthew 17:17Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
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2. In verses 24 and 25, the manna that God sent down to the Israelites is called “the corn of heaven” (compare Joshua 5:12And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
   See All...) and “angels’ food.” Why do you think it is given these titles? What do you think manna was like? Consider Exodus 16:14-15 [14] And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. [15] And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
   See All..., Exodus 16:31And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
   See All...; Numbers 11:6-8 [6] But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. [7] And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium. [8] And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
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3. The Israelites complained because they wanted flesh to eat (v.20). They even questioned God’s ability to provide it (v.20). God brought an east wind and brought them quail like the sand of the sea (v.26-27). They ate their full as God “gave them their own desire” (v.29). But, while the meat was yet in their mouths, the wrath of God came upon them and slew them (v.30-31). Now, why did God give them their desire only to judge them for their sin? Why not just judge them? Can you think of any other examples where God has done this? Or perhaps, you can think of a similar situation that you have seen.

What Does It Mean to Me?

1.  In verse 20, the people acknowledged that God could provide water from the rock, but they questioned whether or not He could provide bread or flesh in the wilderness. How do we do this today? What do you trust God for? What do you have trouble trusting Him for? How can you correct what is lacking in your faith?
2. Verses 34-35 state, “When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.” The judgment of God brought them back to God, at least for a time. Why does it so often work this way with men? How could we avoid this judgment? How should we respond when judgment comes? Try to answer these questions in detail.