Numbers 11:34 And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah because there they buried the people that lusted.
When I first started preaching, I would get to the difficult names or cities in the Old Testament, pause, then slowly butcher the pronunciation. My dad told me after one message that “if you can’t pronounce it, at least mispronounce it with confidence”. Thankfully, today I just have to type Kibrothhattaavah.
Israel was on their way from Egypt, set free from their bondage, headed to the promised land of blessing, but complaining the whole way. The people murmured and God sent fire to destroy the rebels (Numbers 11:1). You would think that would be sufficient to quiet them down a little, but no. They “fell a lusting” after what they didn’t have. Numbers 11:5 “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick.” They were not satisfied with the manna God lovingly provided, but where hankering for Egyptian cuisine.
Moses was at the end of his rope and called them a bunch of nursing infants (Numbers 11:10-15) because they were always crying for him. Moses was so exasperated, he asked God just to kill him so he wouldn’t have to hear their complaining anymore and be under the burden of leading Israel.
God heard the prayer of Moses, but didn’t give Moses his request (thankfully, will God say no to our foolish prayers); however God also heard the complaining of Israel and knew their lusting hearts. God said if they want meat? I’ll give them meat until it comes out of their nose! I’ll give you so much you’ll not want it any more (Numbers 11:18-20 ). Suddenly, a wind picks up and a great number of quail came flying in so close to the ground the people could just go out and catch them by the handful.
Numbers 11:32 says the people started gathering these quails all day and into the night. They had so much quail that the slowest hunter bagged between 6-8 bushels. They were in the day after Thanksgiving shopping mode, feverishly grabbing these quails as fast as they could. Then they ate. They got what they wanted. They lusted after food and stingily got as much as they could get their greedy little hands on and feasted. But while the food was still in their mouth, God smote the people with a plague. Psalms 78: 29-30 So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; They were not estranged from their lust.
Kibrothhattaavah means “graves of lust.” God gave them what they wanted and fulfilling their lust was their judgment. Don’t bury your life, your marriage, your family, or your soul in a grave of lust. What a terrible cemetery to be buried. The wages of sin is death. We need the Bread of Life to deliver us from our Kibrothhattaavah (John 6:51).
