Numbers 11:4-6 ESV
[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.”
Whenever we read about the Israelites leaving Egypt and going into the wilderness, we often judge them. We look at them without sympathy, not realizing that we, the Church, are very similar to them, almost no different at all. Today, we aren’t being delivered from physical slavery, but spiritual slavery, and yet even after freedom, we willingly return to slavery because it’s easier.
Here’s what I mean. This life is hard. There are obstacles, hills, valleys, enemies, and once you follow Christ, you have your flesh against you as well. No longer do you have the meats, spices, fish, herbs, and other cravings you did while in slavery. Instead, now you have to fight those cravings. You have to go through a time of detox as the desires try to overtake you. It’s difficult. The length of the detox from these things you previously indulged in is uncertain. It feels like it’ll never end. Like you will never have peace or satisfaction again.
So, many of us return to slavery. We return to a life that leads to death as long as our flesh is satisfied. We, the Church today, are no different than the Israelites after leaving Egypt. Only 2 from that generation made it into the Promised Land, and our generation of the Church is prophesied to be spit out of the mouth of Christ. Those are discouraging odds, unless we decide to make a change today. Unless we decide to give up our cravings for the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. It isn’t easy, but the cravings of the world will die and no longer have its grip on you like it once did. How? By crucifying your flesh daily. By building your Spirit-Man through prayer, fasting, worship, and reading your Bible. And when the Good LORD returns for His people, you will enter a Promised Land like never before.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Fight The Cravings.