Psalm 78:18–31

¹⁸They were stubborn and put God to the test.

They ordered him to give them the food they longed for.

¹⁹They spoke against God. They said,

“Can God put food on a table in the desert?

²⁰When he struck the rock, streams of water poured out.

Huge amounts of water flowed down.

But can he also give us food?

Can he supply meat for his people?”

²¹When the Lord heard what they said, he was very angry.

His anger broke out like fire against the people of Jacob.

He became very angry with Israel.

²²That was because they didn’t believe in God.

They didn’t trust in his power to save them.

²³But he gave a command to the skies above.

He opened the doors of the heavens.

²⁴He rained down manna for the people to eat.

He gave them the grain of heaven.

²⁵Mere men ate the bread of angels.

He sent them all of the food they could eat.

²⁶He made the east wind blow from the heavens.

By his power he caused the south wind to blow.

²⁷He rained meat down on them like dust.

He sent them birds like sand on the seashore.

²⁸He made the birds come down inside their camp.

The birds fell all around their tents.

²⁹People ate until they had more than enough.

He gave them what they had longed for.

³⁰But even before they had finished eating, God acted.

He did it while the food was still in their mouths.

³¹His anger rose up against them.

He put to death the strongest among them.

He struck down Israel’s young men.