God gave them what they wanted

They soon forgot His works;
They did not wait for His counsel,
But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,
And tested God in the desert.
And He gave them their request,
But sent leanness into their soul. – Psalm 106.13-15

The people of Israel were an ungrateful lot. Despite the provision of fresh water and manna they still were not satisfied. They kept crying and whinging and complaining.They wanted more – they wanted fresh meat and ‘lusted exceedingly in the wilderness.’

So God gave them what they wanted – but they found leanness in their souls.

People of all ages can be the same way. Sometimes people are so stubborn that no matter what they want their way. We know what God’s word says. We know what trusted friends tell us. We know what all the advice is. But still we want our way. And sometimes God lets us have want we do and do what we want to do just so we can learn from the consequences. When we lust exceedingly for things we are never going to be content. We are only going to find leanness in our souls. There will never be satisfaction.

God gave the people the quail they wanted – and more. He gave the quail until the suffocated them. God gave them exactly what they wanted. God knew what was best, but the people would not wait on Him and God did it their way. The consequences were disastrous.

This helps me question if I really want what I want or do I want what I think I want?

There is a way to overcome the wrong wants – if we delight ourselves in the Lord He will give us the desires that are best. When we do that we can be content with what we have because it will be what He knows is best.