I believe you are referring to what we read in Numbers 11:4-6, “And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 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: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.” 

The Lord had graciously provided all the needs of the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt.  We read in Numbers 10:35, “And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.”  As the people travelled across the desert with the ark in front of them, the Lord provided protection from all their enemies.  Yet…the people complained.  In Numbers 11:1-2, we see the Lord’s anger against His people because of their complaints.  Then we see their prayer which caused the Lord to cease His anger.  It didn’t take long for the people to complain once again. 

Notice in verse 4, there was a mixed multitude of people.  The mixed multitude contained a large number of Egyptians who had joined the Israelites in their exodus. They did not know the reality of redemption as Israel did and so this multitude “fell a lusting” and corrupted the children of Israel.  Their influence was great and so the Israelites began to complain once again…this time it was against the Lord’s provision.  How sad, that after the Lord had delivered the Israelites from generations of terrible slavery in Egypt, the people complained and desired to return there.  The Lord provided manna for these people to eat in the desert.  All they had to do was go out in the morning and collect all the manna they could eat for the day. (Read Exodus 16:13-17).  Yet, they grew tired of it.  They later grew to hate this generous provision of the Lord.  We read in Numbers 21:5, “And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul LOATHETH THIS LIGHT BREAD.”  They longed for more…they wanted “flesh to eat.” 

It seems these people longed for more than simply meat to eat.  (Certainly, they had plenty of cattle they could eat.)  They wanted the food they had while in Egypt.  They wanted “the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick.”  I think the lesson here for us is obvious, and very needful.  Instead of being satisfied with what the Lord provided, these people longed to have their appetites filled by the things of this world…represented by the Egyptian food.  We learn in Colossians 2:10, “And YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power.”  All that we could ever possibly need, we find in Christ.  We have the wonderful promise of God in Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply ALL YOUR NEED according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  ALL our needs are met by God according to HIS RICHES in glory by Christ Jesus.  To look elsewhere for our needs is to deny the precious supply of the Lord and His promise to meet all our needs. 

To look to the world to have our needs met is to show that in our hearts we are not satisfied with all the Lord gives us.  We show we need more that what God can give!  How shameful to the Lord for us to find our pleasures and seek to fill our needs by the things of this world.  Notice the multitude wanted leeks, onions, and garlic…those things which give off a foul odor, and which cause us to give off that same foul odor when we partake of it.  May we understand the truth of Psalm 23:1 in a real and experimental way.  That says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” (NIV).  (CC)  (742.6)