Commentaries:
No one knows for sure exactly what occurred, but somewhere on the outskirts of the camp of Israel a literal fire broke out. Whether it was started by lightening or fire out of heaven, nobody knows, only that it was from the Lord. The fire began to consume part of the camp. Soon, people began to experience pain as a result.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Passover and I Corinthians 10
When we start complaining about our plight, it is usually because our focus has shifted off the Lord, who is leading us, and onto our problems, the details of life. It usually involves something we think we ought to have but do not, so we feel as if He has given us the short end of the stick.
For instance, we think we would be happy or satisfied if we only had more money, a bigger home, a better job, better health, or some other advantage. So, we focus on these details and become ungrateful, dissatisfied, and bored with spiritual things or God's purposes. God tells us in Deuteronomy 8:3-5 that He fed Israel with the manna to discipline and train them so that they might understand an important truth, but their focus and desire were only on what they were missing and thought they needed. So they complained.
Manna was a perfect food and precisely what Israel needed at that time. It was healthy and nutritious, and it was not bland since it could be cooked in many ways. It also provided a perfect spiritual picture, representing Jesus Christ, the true Bread from heaven (John 6:32-35), the only One who can give abundant life. But because the people were focused elsewhere and thought happiness came from things like cucumbers and garlic, they considered it boring, becoming ungrateful for this miraculous food from God.
Do we get bored with the spiritual food we receive? Think about it. Complaining is generally the first sign that we are concentrating on our problems or the details of life rather than on Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.
Clyde Finklea
Consequences of a Wrong Focus (Part One)
