God Grants the Meat Yet Warns He Will Call to Account

Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai 16:12

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel" (Exodus 16:12). Rabbi Yehoshua says: the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: revealed and known before me is what Israel said and what they are destined to say before me. "Speak to them, saying: At twilight you shall eat meat." He said to them: you were standing between two kinds of request. You asked for manna from me, since it is impossible for a person to be without bread, and I gave it to you. Then you turned and asked for meat to fill your bellies; behold, I am giving it to you. And why am I giving it to you? So that you will not come to say, "It is not within his power to give us meat." Rather, behold, I am giving it to you, and in the end I will exact payment from you. "And you shall know that I am the LORD your God" - I am a judge to exact payment.

Themes

Divine JusticeJudgmentManna

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