Psalm 78:29

Today’s verse resounds with lip-smacking satisfaction. Or does it? God gave the Israelites what they wanted, and they gobbled it up with relish.

From the time they marched out of Egypt, the Israelites grumbled and groaned, complained and questioned. When they were thirsty, God caused water to stream from a rock. When they accused God of bringing them into the desert to starve, He rained down manna. Then, they demanded meat, so He sent a great covey of quail into their camp.

While the meat was still in their mouths, the wrath of God blazed forth, and the strongest men in Israel died – about 40,000 of them. God did not want to slay them, but He “gave them their own desire.”

Instead of focusing on the amazing ways that God had delivered them, they deceived themselves about what they needed and gave in to their fleshly appetites. Instead of trust and gratitude, they insisted on what they craved. Their diet ended in death. Their demands destroyed their destiny.

Staying in close relationship with Jesus diminishes the possibility that we will be deceived by our own cravings. The more we know of Him, the more that we hunger for His presence. His priorities become our own. Our desire is in Him and our desire is Him.