Psalms 106:15
he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Psalms 106:15
he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse highlights that God sometimes grants our desires precisely to reveal their destructive nature, sending "leanness" not just to their bodies from overindulgence, but a soul-starvation that comes from prioritizing temporary satisfaction over spiritual well-being. It's a stark reminder that getting what we ask for isn't the same as receiving what's truly good for us.
The Psalmist recounts the Israelites' journey after escaping Egypt, focusing on their persistent complaining and rebellious hearts. They grumbled against God and Moses, longing for the food they ate in Egypt, which led God to send them quail in abundance. However, this desire, granted in their impatience and lack of trust, ultimately brought a deadly plague upon them.
We all love it when God answers our prayers! But what happens when God gives us exactly what we asked for, and it turns out to be a disaster?
The Bitter Taste of Granted Desires
This verse paints a stark picture: God gave them what they asked. For the Israelites in the wilderness, this meant a craving for meat, specifically the familiar taste of Egypt. They grumbled, "Oh that we had meat to eat!" (Numbers 11:4). God heard their plea and sent quail in overwhelming numbers.
A Dangerous Gift
But the gift came with a devastating price. Instead of nourishment and satisfaction, God sent "leanness into their soul." This wasn't just about physical discomfort; it was a spiritual decay. The very thing they desired, the very answer to their prayer, became the instrument of their downfall.
This shows us that sometimes God's answer to our desires isn't a simple 'yes' or 'no,' but a profound, even painful, 'yes' that carries a hidden 'no' for our spiritual well-being. It's a divine caution: our desires, when unchecked by His wisdom, can lead us away from Him.
What does it mean for the soul to become "lean"? It sounds like a physical ailment, but the text points to something much deeper.
Spiritual Starvation Amidst Abundance
The phrase "leanness into their soul" is incredibly powerful. While some commentators suggest it refers to physical wasting, the most profound understanding is spiritual. It describes a state where, despite having their desires met, the people became spiritually malnourished.
A Soul Detached
This "leanness" signifies a detachment from God. Their focus on satisfying their immediate cravings—the taste of Egyptian meat—led them to reject the spiritual provision God had given them (the manna). They craved what was familiar and luxurious, not what was life-sustaining and God-given.
This is a warning against prioritizing worldly comforts or immediate gratification over spiritual health. When our deepest desires are for things that pull us away from God, even His provision can lead to spiritual depletion, leaving our souls weak and starved, even if our bodies are full.
Understand the original words
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 captures God's response to the Israelites' demanding desires in the wilderness: He gave them what they asked for (meat), but the spiritual consequence was a 'leanness' – a disconnect from Him and His provision, ultimately leading to physical death for many.
c. 1440 BC
Exodus from Egypt
After centuries of slavery, the Israelites are miraculously freed from Egyptian bondage by God's mighty acts.
c. 1440 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
The Israelites begin their journey through the Sinai desert towards the Promised Land, facing numerous challenges and temptations.
c. 1440 BC— this verse
Israelites Crave Meat
During their wilderness wanderings, the Israelites become dissatisfied with the daily provision of manna and strongly desire meat.
c. 1440 BC
God Sends Quail
In response to their clamoring, God sends vast numbers of quail for the people to eat, fulfilling their physical desire.
c. 1440 BC
This passage describes the very event alluded to in Psalm 106:15, where the Israelites craved meat and God sent quail, but a plague struck them down while they were still eating.
Deuteronomy 8:3This verse teaches that true sustenance comes from God's word, not just physical food, highlighting the spiritual 'leanness' that can result from prioritizing worldly desires over spiritual nourishment.
Psalm 78:18-31Similar to Psalm 106, this passage recounts the Israelites' grumbling and testing God in the wilderness, leading to God giving them their desire for meat but also judgment upon them.
1 Corinthians 10:6-10The Apostle Paul directly references the Israelites' desires and God's judgment in the wilderness as a warning to believers, showing how these historical events carry enduring spiritual lessons.
Matthew 6:33This verse offers a profound contrast, urging believers to seek God's kingdom first, implying that a focus on worldly requests over God's will can lead to spiritual emptiness, mirroring the 'leanness' described in the Psalm.
clarkePsalms 106:15: "And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul."
Sent leanness - They despised the manna, and called it light, that is, innutritive, bread. God gave flesh as they desired, but gave no blessing with it; and in consequence they did not fatten, but grew lean upon it. Their souls also suffered want.
wesleyPsalms 106:15: "And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul."
106:15 Souls - Into their bodies. So their inordinate desire of pampering their bodies, was the occasion of destroying them.
This verse highlights that God sometimes grants our desires precisely to reveal their destructive nature, sending "leanness" not just to their bodies from overindulgence, but a soul-starvation that comes from prioritizing temporary satisfaction over spiritual well-being. It's a stark reminder that getting what we ask for isn't the same as receiving what's truly good for us.
The Psalmist recounts the Israelites' journey after escaping Egypt, focusing on their persistent complaining and rebellious hearts. They grumbled against God and Moses, longing for the food they ate in Egypt, which led God to send them quail in abundance. However, this desire, granted in their impatience and lack of trust, ultimately brought a deadly plague upon them.
The Psalmist recounts the Israelites' journey after escaping Egypt, focusing on their persistent complaining and rebellious hearts. They grumbled against God and Moses, longing for the food they ate in Egypt, which led God to send them quail in abundance. However, this desire, granted in their impatience and lack of trust, ultimately brought a deadly plague upon them.
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Plague and Death
Many Israelites gorge themselves on the quail, leading to sickness and death; this event becomes known as the 'Graves of Craving'.
c. 1440 BC
Rebellion and Judgment
This incident is one of many in the wilderness journey where Israel's unfaithfulness and rebellion against God lead to His judgment.
"he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them." — This verse highlights that God sometimes grants our desires precisely to reveal their destructive nature, sending "leanness" not just to their bodies from overindulgence, but a soul-starvation that c…