Psalm 78, all 72 verses, reviews the history of Israel, her spiritual history anyway. And emphasis is placed on that little Nation’s strong, selfish, often sensual desires!

Like the time they “lusted” after meat, not God’s choice, “manna!”

Psalm 78:26-29 tells us. “He (the Lord) caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. He rained flesh (meat, quail specifically) also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea. And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire.”

They grumbled until they got their own way!

Yes, God miraculously sent them “meat,” called “feathered fowls” here.

Lots of meat, “birds” counted as “the sand of the sea!” Virtually innumerable!

And they ate.

And they were filled.

“Enough” of that manna stuff!

Yes, God … “gave them their own desire.”

But then Psalm 106:15 adds of the same incident: ““And he (the Lord, aqain) gave them (the Israelites) their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”

See that? They got what they wanted!

Even from the Lord!

But they paid a price for it!

“Leanness” to their own souls!

And “leanness” (in Hebrew “razon”) means: “scantiness,” or even “a wasting away!”

Wow!

If we keep “pushing” for something that is against God’s Will … we just might persuade Him to grant it!

To our own detriment.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell