Numbers 11-17 covers an awkward period in Israel’s history when they are homesick for their former slave lifestyle and do not yet trust Moses or the God who guides him and them.  The most famous incident involves the twelve spies sent to explore the Promised Land and the fear that ten of them had for the people of the new country.  Their fear touched the Israelites deeply, causing then to disobey God’s direction.  In addition Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses; the people grumble about the food, and the Levites rebel.

God’s responses are all miraculous: Leprosy, plagues, the earth swallows up dissenters, and fire flashes out.  All these underscore the LORD’s might and his intent for the tribes to understand what he claims in Numbers 15.41 – “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”

Possibly the weirdest reaction to the people’s protesting was the quail dinner supplied for those with a craving for meat in chapter 11.  They were already tired of the abundant but just-enough supply of manna and they actually wept when they remembered their former life – just the good parts of fish and vegetables, not the back-breaking brick making. “Give us meat!” sounds like a fraternity anthem.

Moses relayed God’s response that they would have quail to eat ‘until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept before him, saying, ’Why did we come out of Egypt?’”  When Moses questions the logistics of the fowl endeavor, we hear the famous response “Is the LORD’s hand shortened?”

As promised, God whips up a Westerly wind and brings birds in from the sea, dropping them around the camp to a height of two cubits (about three feet).  But those with the craving were struck with a plague ‘while the meat was yet between their teeth.’  Like all the heavy responses, the offenders were punished, the righteous (?) bystanders were spared and everyone knew the LORD was in charge.