Big Idea: Ingratitude toward God can lead to forfeiture of blessings.

Understanding the Text

After nearly a year at Mount Sinai, Israel resumes its march toward the promised land (Num. 10:11; cf. Exod. 19:1–2). It is an auspicious start. Everyone lines up as God has commanded through Moses (Num. 10:13–28) and as directed by the blasts of silver trumpets (Num. 10:1–10). God himself guides the Israelites in the fire cloud and with the ark (Num. 10:34–36). But after three days’ journey from Sinai (Num. 10:33), this good start deteriorates into grumbling.

Numbers 11 sets the pattern for the remainder of the book of Numbers, where grumbling and complaining are ubiquitous. Numbers 11 shows how God and Moses deal with these complaints.

Historical and Cultural Background

Fish (see Num. 11:5) …