Flesh Meats (Proteins Continued)
291
In this instance the Lord gave the people that which was not for
their best good, because they would have it. They would not submit to
receive from the Lord those things which would prove for their good.
They gave themselves up to seditious murmurings against Moses, and
against the Lord, because they did not receive those things which
would prove an injury to them. Their depraved appetites controlled
them, and God gave them flesh meats, as they desired, and He let them
suffer the results of gratifying their lustful appetites. Burning fevers
cut down very large numbers of the people. Those who had been most
guilty in their murmurings were slain as soon as they tasted the meat
for which they had lusted. If they had submitted to have the Lord select
their food for them, and had been thankful and satisfied for food which
they could eat freely of without injury, they would not have lost the
favor of God, and then been punished for their rebellious murmurings
by great numbers of them being slain.—
Spiritual Gifts 4a:15-18, 1864
God’s Purpose for Israel
644. When God led the children of Israel out of Egypt, it was His
purpose to establish them in the land of Canaan a pure, happy, healthy
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people. Let us look at the means by which He would accomplish
this. He subjected them to a course of discipline, which, had it been
cheerfully followed, would have resulted in good, both to themselves
and to their posterity. He removed flesh food from them in a great
measure. He had granted them flesh in answer to their clamors, just
before reaching Sinai, but it was furnished for only one day. God
might have provided flesh as easily as manna, but a restriction was
placed upon the people for their good. It was His purpose to supply
them with food better suited to their wants than the feverish diet to
which many of them had been accustomed in Egypt. The perverted
appetite was to be brought into a more healthy state, that they might
enjoy the food originally provided for man,—the fruits of the earth,
which God gave to Adam and Eve in Eden.
Had they been willing to deny appetite in obedience to His re-
strictions, feebleness and disease would have been unknown among
them. Their descendants would have possessed physical and mental
strength. They would have had clear perceptions of truth and duty,
keen discrimination, and sound judgment. But they were unwilling