NUMBERS 11:1-6 – And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. 2 Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down. 3 So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned among them. 4 Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” .

THEME OF THE DAY. KILL THE CRAVING. The Puritan pastor/theologian John Owen once said, “Be killing sin or sin will be killing you.” Though a short quote, it is a powerful quote loaded with Biblical meaning and application. Here are two scripture references supporting Owen’s quote – For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live (Romans 8:13) and Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). Basically, we may rewrite the quote and apply the scripture like this – “If you don’t do daily battle against sin; if you neglect to do all-out war against the passions of your flesh, you will not only be defeated by sinful passions, but ruled be them as well.”

In today’s scriptures, we encounter a people ruled by sinful passions and cravings – Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. The word “rabble” refers to a multitude of people. And we need no help defining “strong craving.” It is also translated “a lusting”, “greedy desires”, and “intense craving.” Just take a few moments and identify these cravings, lusts, and greedy desires in our lives. And yes, we have them – all of them. I won’t list some of them. Consider areas – cravings, lusts, greedy desires – that have an intense pull on your hearts. They scream to be fulfilled. They are insatiable, and though they might not consistently tugging on our hearts, they are always present, ready to be ignited and draw us into sin. Unless they are slain by spiritual means, they will destroy a life. I will just give you two examples. An intense lust, craving, and desire for sexual pleasure that leads a person to the sin of sex outside of marriage or the destruction of relationships and a life through pornography. Another area of lust, craving and greedy desires is the obsession with financial security that grips a person so strongly they become miserly and lack sacrificial giving to the Lord’s work and the needs of His people. Back to the people in today’s scripture . . .

We may learn two things from their example of being controlled by sinful cravings. First, a sign we are in the stronghold of sinful desires or fleshly passion is a complaining spirit – And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes. What were the misfortunes these people were complaining about? The lack of fulfillment of their cravings which was the life of ease and plenty in Egypt. If we are held captive by fleshly cravings and they cannot be satisfied in our lives, we will commit the sin of complaining. Be on guard for this. Complaining is a sin that has a sinful cause. Trace it and confess it.

There is another lesson we may learn from the “rabble” of today’s scripture about sinful cravings. It is implied but real – a complaining spirit quenches a thankful heart. God was providing for these people. He just wasn’t providing for their sinful cravings. Instead of being thankful for God’s provision, they focused on what they thought they were lacking. Friends, an unthankful heart is a spiritually sick heart. If we hope to enjoy the Lord, then we must kill our sinful cravings, develop a heart of thanksgiving for God denying our sinful cravings, and rest in His always perfect provision in our lives to kill our sinful cravings.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to see, believe, and then do what Your Word says – “Put to death the passions of your flesh.”

QUOTE: “Try to fulfill sinful cravings, and spiritual growth stops, our testimonies are damaged, and we dishonor Jesus.”