Psalm 106:13–15
They soon forgot his works; they waited not for his counsel: but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. KJV
That’s a description of Israel in their relationship with God during the forty years in the wilderness. God had performed mighty miracles on their behalf. He’d redeemed them out of Egypt. He’d made provision for them in all their desert wandering. But Israel had a short memory. They soon forgot what He’d done for them. They didn’t wait for His counsel. They didn’t wait to see what God wanted to do next, but they were guilty of greed and lust. They asked for meat and it says God sent them their request. The record shows that He sent them an abundance of quails that fell all around their camp and they were actually knee-deep in quails. But note that final commentary which is so tragic: God “gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.” Their bodies were filled, their souls were empty. Let us beware that we do not make the same mistake that we forget God’s goodness, that we do not wait for His counsel and that we ask to satisfy our lusts, and we even receive – but our souls become hungry and bare. Let’s wait for God’s counsel. Let’s not force our will upon God. Sometimes we can do that and God will yield, but it’s to our own great hurt.
—Derek Prince