They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to miss that their "lust" wasn't just about wanting something extra; it was a rejection of God's provision, the manna, because it didn't satisfy their desire for the familiar tastes and textures of Egypt. They didn't just ask for more food; they asked for a different kind of food, revealing a deep dissatisfaction with God's plan for them.
They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is recounting Israel's history in the wilderness, highlighting their repeated failures to trust God despite His constant provision and miraculous interventions. This verse specifically addresses their grumbling and demands for meat, contrasting God's miraculous manna with their carnal desires, which ultimately led to judgment.
What does it mean to 'test God in your heart'? It’s more than just an outward action; it starts with a deep-seated attitude that can lead us astray.
This verse reveals that testing God isn't always a loud, defiant act. It often begins in the 'heart,' as Psalms 78:18 states. This internal disposition is where the real danger lies.
The Seed of Discontent
The Israelites were provided with manna, a daily, miraculous provision. Yet, their hearts craved something more, something perceived as more satisfying – meat. This craving wasn't necessarily about survival; it was about desire and comfort.
Testing God's Provision
When we are discontent with God's provision, even when it's sufficient, and demand more based on our own cravings, we are essentially questioning God's ability and willingness to care for us. This is the essence of 'testing God in their heart.' It’s an internal rebellion that can manifest in outward complaints and a lack of trust.
The Israelites had just experienced God’s incredible power in their deliverance. Yet, they quickly forgot. What does this say about our own tendency to focus on immediate desires over God’s long-term promises?
Psalms 78 is a powerful reminder of Israel's repeated failures to trust God, even after witnessing His mighty acts. Verse 18 specifically points to their demand for meat as an example of this pattern.
The Allure of the Past
They 'demanded the food they craved.' This wasn't a prayer for sustenance; it was a demand born out of longing for the familiar comforts of Egypt. They remembered the sensual pleasures and tastes of their former bondage more than they valued their newfound freedom in God's covenant.
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Spiritual Amnesia
Their craving revealed a spiritual amnesia. They had forgotten the God who had miraculously provided manna, the 'bread of heaven,' and sustained them through the Red Sea. Instead, they focused on their physical appetites, demonstrating a preference for temporary gratification over the lasting relationship God offered. This desire for 'meat for their lust' (or soul) shows a heart that prioritized earthly comfort over spiritual faithfulness.
Understand the original words
nasah · Hebrew Verb
To put God to the test or to try His patience; it implies a lack of trust in God's character and providence despite past evidence of His power.
Elohim · Hebrew Noun
A term for the deity of Israel, referring to the one true God who is the Creator, Sustainer, and covenant-keeper of His people.
This verse highlights a critical moment during the 40-year wilderness journey where the Israelites, despite experiencing God's miraculous provision of manna, craved earthly comforts and tested God's patience by demanding meat out of sheer luxury and discontent, not necessity.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
Following 400 years of slavery, God miraculously delivered the Israelites from Egypt under Moses' leadership.
c. 1446 BC
Crossing the Red Sea
God parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape Pharaoh's pursuing army, who were then drowned.
c. 1446-1406 BC— this verse
Wilderness Wanderings
The Israelites journeyed through the Sinai desert for 40 years, a period marked by divine provision and frequent disobedience.
c. 1446 BC
Giving of Manna
God provided 'bread from heaven' (manna) daily for the Israelites in the wilderness, sustaining them miraculously.
c. 1446 BC
Murmurings for Meat
The Israelites, tired of manna, grumbled and demanded meat, testing God's willingness and ability to provide beyond their daily provision.
c. 1446 BC
Quail and Plague
God sent quail for the Israelites to eat, but their excessive craving led to a plague that killed many, at Kibroth-hattaavah (the graves of craving).
This passage directly describes the Israelites craving meat and complaining to God, which is the historical event Psalm 78 recounts and thus illustrates the 'lust' and 'testing' mentioned.
Matthew 15:19Jesus teaches that evil thoughts and desires, like 'lust,' originate from the heart, mirroring how the psalmist identifies the Israelites' temptation of God as stemming from their inner desires rather than a genuine need.
1 Corinthians 10:9This New Testament passage warns against 'testing the Lord' by craving things, directly referencing the Israelites' sin in the wilderness, which highlights the ongoing relevance of this spiritual danger.
Deuteronomy 8:3This verse emphasizes God's provision of manna as a means to teach reliance on His word over physical cravings, directly contrasting with the Israelites' rejection of manna in favor of their desires in Psalm 78.
clarkePsalms 78:18: "And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust."
By asking meat for their lust - לנפשם lenaphsham, "for their souls," i.e., for their lives; for they said in their hearts that the light bread, the manna, was not sufficient to sustain their natural force, and preserve their lives. It seems, however, from the expression, that they were wholly carnal; that they had no spirituality of mind; they were earthly, animal, and devilish.
expositorsPsalms 78:1-72: "Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth."
Psalm 78:1-72 THIS psalm is closely related to Psalm 105:1-45 ; Psalm 106:1-48 ; Psalm 107:1-43 . Like them, it treats the history of Israel, and especially the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, for purposes of edification, rebuke, and encouragement. The past is held up as a mirror to the present generation. It has been one long succession of miracles of mercy met by equally continu…
It's easy to miss that their "lust" wasn't just about wanting something extra; it was a rejection of God's provision, the manna, because it didn't satisfy their desire for the familiar tastes and textures of Egypt. They didn't just ask for more food; they asked for a different kind of food, revealing a deep dissatisfaction with God's plan for them.
The psalmist is recounting Israel's history in the wilderness, highlighting their repeated failures to trust God despite His constant provision and miraculous interventions. This verse specifically addresses their grumbling and demands for meat, contrasting God's miraculous manna with their carnal desires, which ultimately led to judgment.
The psalmist is recounting Israel's history in the wilderness, highlighting their repeated failures to trust God despite His constant provision and miraculous interventions. This verse specifically addresses their grumbling and demands for meat, contrasting God's miraculous manna with their carnal desires, which ultimately led to judgment.
"They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved." — It's easy to miss that their "lust" wasn't just about wanting something extra; it was a rejection of God's provision, the manna, because it didn't satisfy their desire for the familiar tastes and tex…
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Last reviewed October 2026