Psalms 78:30

"So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire."

Key Reflection

When God provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16:27), it was not merely to satisfy their immediate hunger but also as a test of their trust and obedience. The phrase "He gave them their own desire" highlights that while the food was sufficient, they still yearned for something more familiar—likely the delicacies of Egypt. This verse underscores how God's provision can be both literal and symbolic, reflecting his care and also revealing the Israelites' ingratitude and desire for comfort over dependence on divine provision.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

They were not estranged from their lust -literally, “They were not made strangers to;” that is, in regard to their lusts or desires they were not in the condition of “foreigners” or aliens; they were not separated from them. The word “lusts” here means “desires, wishes.” It is not used here in the restricted sense in which it is now with us. The reference is to their desire for food different from manna - for flesh; and the idea is, that they did not restrain their intense desire even when it should have been fully satisfied. They indulged to excess, and the consequence was that many of them perished.

More from Psalms 78

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