Psalm 106:12-15 Then believed they his words;they sang his praise. (13) They soon forgot his works;they waited not for his counsel: (14) But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,and tempted God in the desert. (15) And he gave them their request;but sent leanness into their soul.
How sad this passage is…
In verse 12,the Israelites only believed God’s words after He parted the Red Sea. It took a miracle in order for them to believe. The same thing happens today —people want a sign and they want God to show Himself even though they do not really want anything to do with Him. God showed Himself to the Israelites and they sang His praises for a time.
In verse 13,we see that the Israelites have short term memory problems. They forgot about the miracles that God performed in Egypt and they forgot what God had done at the Red Sea. What made them forget? Their flesh. They got hungry and thirsty and rather than asking God to send them food and water,they began to complain and murmur and wish that they were back in Egypt. When we do not wait on the Lord,we begin to have short term memory problems as well. We forget what blessings God gave to us. We murmur and whine and complain and forget the great things of God. When we come to our senses,we look back in regret. Isn’t it better to deal with it now,than look back with regret?
In verse 14,we see that the Israelites have given themselves over to the demands of their flesh. The flesh is more demanding than God. However,there is more pleasure to be found with God than with the flesh. Sadly,the Israelites ignored God,and made their desires their idol.
Verse 15. God gave them what they wanted —they got their fleshly desires,but at what cost? They also received leaness of their souls. Their desire for the spiritual became less and their flesh demanded more. That problem has not gone away today,we want to feed our flesh and put our spirit on a bread and water diet. How sad we are. If only we put as much effort into feeding our spirit as we do in feeding our flesh.
Romans 8:5-8 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death;but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:for it is not subject to the law of God,neither indeed can be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.