THERE ARE OBVIOUS DIFFERENCES between wants and needs. In a first-world existence, we might want a car, but desire a new BMW that is beyond our means. We may be settled into a comfortable life in a middle-class neighborhood, but feel driven to work multiple jobs to move up to a gated community. Scaling up the necessary resources is a difficult task in trying to keep up with inordinate desires. This is not the bane of our age of civilization—it is the tribulation of each soul of every generation. ‘Enough’ is never enough. Neither is ‘more.’
This is clearly illustrated in the ancient story of Israel in the desert years. God has rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, but their new-found freedom is not fully appreciated—it comes with change, and insecurity, and hard work—and so they complained. “In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.’” (Ex. 16:2-3) They conveniently forgot about making bricks without straw, and existing on meager rations of food. (cf. Ex. Ch. 5) The LORD hears them, and through Moses says “At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.” (Ex. 16:12)
God immediately fulfills his promise: “That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. Thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor.” (Ex. 16:13-14) And so they had meat, and manna, the bread of heaven. They ate the manna for forty years. (cf. Ex. 16:35) And as Moses recounts the history of their time in the desert, just before Joshua leads them into the Promised Land, he reminds them “your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.” (Deut. 29:5)
This same story of complaint is told in the Book of Numbers, with some additional details. Here, God is angry with the people for their grumbling. “The people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused.” (Num. 11:1) Their criticisms are still about the quality of the food they once had in Egypt versus God’s present provision for them in the desert. “But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” (Num. 11:6) And Moses even protests to God about the people. “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?” (Num. 11:11)
God promises to feed the people with quantities of meat far beyond the resources of their flocks and herds, and to Moses incredulous query he responds, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.” (Num. 11:23) But God has warned that they will eat it, “until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it.” (Num. 11:20) And come true it does, in a massive object lesson. “A wind went out from the Lord and drove quail in from the sea. It scattered them up to three feet deep all around the camp, as far as a day’s walk in any direction.” (Num. 11:31)
Imagine the joy of the people as the desires of their dreams of abundance are wildly exceeded by God’s provision for them. But God has something else in mind. “While the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.” (Num. 11:33) An anecdotal aphorism applies: “Be careful for what you ask, you just might get it.”
In the modern age, in first-world affluent countries, a malaise of discontent is increasingly prevalent in the troughs of the cycles of economic prosperity. It is a luxury of emotion that is viewed askance by the citizens of second and third world countries, whose economies have seldom or never known prosperity. And, in the first world, the increasingly rapid intense cyclic paroxysms of the economic waves have embedded a deep anxiety that permeates the culture from richest to poorest. A spirit, soul, and body trapped in linear time cannot escape from a sense of dread.
Seeing God as Father, as Provider, eternally trustworthy in his response to the needs of our lives, is a great reassurance in the midst of this world of confusion. Scripture is clear in this, providing many maxims that speak to our anxieties and lead to a manageable life. Jesus tells us to, “seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:33) The Psalmist adds, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (Psa. 84:11) And in Hebrews we are told, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” (Heb. 13:5) Truly, God is our only trustworthy provider. He has provided eternity for us in heaven; he will provide as needed for our lives here.
Nevertheless, be careful for what you ask. You just might get it.
Q. What do I actually need?
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