Psalms 106:14-15
But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert; he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text doesn't just say they craved food; it highlights they "lusted a lust." This isn't a simple hunger pang, but a deep, selfish desire for the forbidden comforts of Egypt, demonstrating a profound forgetfulness of God's immediate provision and protection.
This verse harks back to the Israelites' journey through the desert, right after God performed miraculous deliverances for them. Instead of trusting Him, they grumbled and craved the familiar foods of Egypt, showing a profound lack of faith and gratitude despite God's constant provision of manna. Their "lusting" was not just for food, but a testing of God's presence and power in their challenging wilderness experience.
The Israelites in the wilderness didn't just get hungry; they 'lusted.' What does that word really mean in this context, and why is it so serious?
The verse uses the phrase "lusted a lust," a Hebrew idiom emphasizing the intensity and nature of their craving. This wasn't simply a desire for something they were missing; it was an intense, greedy longing for the specific comforts and tastes of Egypt – the fish, the melons, the leeks.
A Voluptuous Craving
Commentators highlight that this was a "voluptuous lust," a desire to gratify appetite beyond mere necessity. It was a longing for forbidden pleasures, a turning away from God's provision (manna) towards the familiar, but sinful, indulgences of their past.
The Sin of Discontent
This intense desire reveals a deeper sin: discontent. Even with God miraculously providing daily bread, their hearts craved what Egypt offered. This is a stark reminder that sin often begins with discontentment with God's current blessings.
Why is 'tempting God' considered such a grave sin, especially in the seemingly desolate wilderness?
The Israelites didn't just crave; they "put God to the test." This act of tempting God is a profound expression of distrust and defiance.
Questioning God's Presence and Power
To "tempt God" in this context means to challenge His faithfulness and ability. They had already seen His mighty acts in bringing them out of Egypt and providing for them. Yet, in their hunger, they acted as if God wasn't truly with them, or as if He lacked the power to sustain them in the desert. It was like saying, 'Are you really God? Can you really take care of us here?'
The Wilderness Context Matters
This rebellion happened in the "wilderness" and "desert"—places where they were utterly dependent on God. Their testing Him in their place of total reliance highlights the audacity of their sin. It wasn't just a casual doubt; it was a direct assault on God's character and His covenant promises at a moment they needed Him most.
Understand the original words
ta'avah · Hebrew Noun
A strong, often sinful desire or intense appetite for something outside of God’s provided boundaries. It denotes a lack of contentment and a turning toward worldly gratification.
nasah · Hebrew Verb
To challenge or provoke God to prove His presence, power, or goodness. This is an act of unbelief, doubting God's faithfulness despite evidence of His previous intervention.
razon · Hebrew Noun
A state of physical or spiritual depletion and decline. Often used in Scripture to describe the consequences of divine judgment or the toll of sin upon the body or soul.
This verse recalls a specific incident during the Israelites' 40-year trek through the desert after escaping Egypt. Their grumbling for the comforts of Egypt, rather than trusting God's daily provision of manna, highlights a recurring theme of human unfaithfulness amidst divine faithfulness.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
After centuries of slavery, the Israelites are miraculously led out of Egypt by God through Moses.
c. 1446-1406 BC— this verse
Wandering in the Wilderness
The Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the Sinai desert as a consequence of their disobedience and lack of faith.
c. 1446 BC
The Craving for Meat
During their wilderness journey, the Israelites grew discontent with the manna and craved the meat and vegetables they had in Egypt, leading them to complain bitterly to God.
c. 1446 BC
Testing God's Provision
Their discontent manifested as testing God, questioning His ability and willingness to provide for them in the harsh desert environment.
This passage directly describes the Israelites lusting after food in the wilderness, providing the original context for the Psalmist's lament.
1 Corinthians 10:6The apostle Paul explicitly uses the example of the Israelites' lust and temptation in the wilderness as a warning to believers, showing the ongoing relevance of this sin.
Psalm 78:18This Psalm recounts the same historical event, emphasizing the people's 'craving' and 'testing' God, reinforcing the theme of unfaithfulness despite God's provision.
Exodus 17:7Here, the people are identified as 'contending' with Moses and 'testing' the Lord by asking 'Is the Lord among us or not?', highlighting the essence of tempting God by questioning His presence and power.
wesleyPsalms 106:14: "But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert."
106:14 Lusted - For flesh.
gillPsalms 106:14: "But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert."
But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,.... Or, "lusted a lust" (p) as in Numbers 11:4 to which story there related this refers; they were not content with the manna they had every day, though very nourishing and of a sweet taste; they lusted after the fish and flesh of Egypt, and other things they ate there; so that this was not a natural lust, or craving after food and drink, to satisfy nature, which w…
The text doesn't just say they craved food; it highlights they "lusted a lust." This isn't a simple hunger pang, but a deep, selfish desire for the forbidden comforts of Egypt, demonstrating a profound forgetfulness of God's immediate provision and protection.
This verse harks back to the Israelites' journey through the desert, right after God performed miraculous deliverances for them. Instead of trusting Him, they grumbled and craved the familiar foods of Egypt, showing a profound lack of faith and gratitude despite God's constant provision of manna. Their "lusting" was not just for food, but a testing of God's presence and power in their challenging wilderness experience.
This verse harks back to the Israelites' journey through the desert, right after God performed miraculous deliverances for them. Instead of trusting Him, they grumbled and craved the familiar foods of Egypt, showing a profound lack of faith and gratitude despite God's constant provision of manna. Their "lusting" was not just for food, but a testing of God's presence and power in their challenging wilderness experience.
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c. 1406 BC
Entry into the Promised Land
After 40 years, the new generation of Israelites finally entered the land God had promised to their ancestors.
"But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert; he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them." — The text doesn't just say they craved food; it highlights they "lusted a lust." This isn't a simple hunger pang, but a deep, selfish desire for the forbidden comforts of Egypt, demonstrating a profou…
