The People Complain to Moses

Numbers 11

     There came a time when the people of Israel complained to the Lord and to each other about their troubles in the wilderness. To make things worse, some strangers from the desert joined with the people of Israel in their camps. These people were very greedy for good things, and they made the people of Israel think about food and cry even more.

     "Oh, we wish we had some meat!" they cried. "In Egypt, we had plenty of fish. There were cucumbers and watermelons. There were leeks and onions. The was a garlic to flavor the food. But all we see here is manna, manna, manna!"

     The manna that God sent from heaven looked like small seeds. The people gathered it up and ground it into flour. Then they made cakes that tasted like bread. Every night the manna fell when the dew came.

     Moses heard the people who stood in the doorways of their tents, complaining about food. The Lord became angry, and Moses felt unhappy.

     "Why have you done this to me?" he asked God. "I have tried to do everything you asked. Now the people are mad because they want different food. Am I their mother? Am I supposed to feed them and rock them to sleep?"

     Moses thought for a while, and then he went on praying to God. "Where can I find meat for all these people? Lord, I can't take care of everyone by myself. If you want me to do it alone, then kill me?"

     God answered Moses and told him what do do. "Get seventy elders of the people. They shall bear some of the burden with you."

     Moses had the seventy stand around the tent of God. Then God spoke to them from a cloud of glory. For the first time, they were allowed to share part of the spirit that the Lord gave Moses.

     A strong wind blew thousands of quails all around the camp. People spent two days and a night collecting them.