We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick. Numbers 11:5
What do you remember the most fondly from your unsaved days? Wait, before you think about that, also think about our Lord’s desire that we leave the things of our former life behind and keep our thoughts on what our Salvation has brought us into. Our text today shows how the Israelites didn’t get that message but fell into discontent as they thought back to their diet in Egypt. The back-breaking rigour of making bricks and the sting of the taskmasters’ whips were forgotten as they mused on those things that had tickled their palates. There are spiritual lessons for us to learn today from those things that the Israelites pined for in their backsliding.
It would be hard to criticize the Israelites for longing for a good feed of fish, until we remember that the fish they ate in Egypt was from a very contaminated river. The filth and corruption of the Nile made that fish harmful to the eaters. It reminds us of the moral filth and corruption of today’s society. The world’s entertainment, literature, social programs, and even much of its education, are steeped in immorality, irreverence, and opposition to God. Participation in these things will contaminate our souls and drag us down to the level of the wicked.
What could be wrong with cucumbers and melons? They are tasty and nutritious, we are told, and I can find no fault with anybody for eating them. But eaters of cucumbers and melons need to be careful not to overeat them. These foods can lead to bloating and gas that can be very uncomfortable. They remind us of the world’s influence that urges us to pride in ourselves and to self-love, which are the direct opposite of our Lord’s command that we practice humanity and devotion to the needs of others. Our battle against pride is very real and necessary, a battle that the world would love for us to abandon.
I don’t notice it myself, but if you come to our house, you will probably notice the scent of onions. We eat them aplenty. Along with leeks and garlic, these foods can be very healthy for us. But they can have a negative side effect – bad breath. This reminds us of the potty talk, minced oaths, and vulgar expressions that come to our lips if we spend too much of our time in the company of the unsaved. They don’t care how rotten their language is, but what comes out of the mouths of the Lord’s people should be vastly different, focusing on the good and wholesome, heavily influenced by the Word of God.
The things we loved in our former life have no place in the life we seek to live today. And we won’t miss them if we focus on the good that our Lord has brought us into. – Jim MacIntosh