Then they spoke against God; They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
Parallel translations
- WEB Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
- KJV Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
- BSB They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?
- NKJV Yes, they spoke against God: They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
- NLT They even spoke against God himself, saying, “God can’t give us food in the wilderness.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The people openly questioned whether God could even set a table in the desert. Their sarcastic doubt insulted the One who had already redeemed them.
Overview
Speaking against God, Israel challenged His ability to provide in the wilderness. The taunt 'Can God prepare a table?' reveals hearts that had forgotten the Exodus miracles. Ironically God does spread tables for His people, supremely in the Lord's Supper, where Christ feeds believers in the wilderness of this world.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Num 21:5The people spoke against God, and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loathes this light bread.”
- Num 11:4The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?
- Exod 16:3and the children of Israel said to them, “We wish that we had died by Yahweh’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots, when we ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
- Ps 23:5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
- Exod 16:8–10Moses said, “Now Yahweh shall give you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to satisfy you; because Yahweh hears your murmurings which you murmur against him. And who are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against Yahweh.”
- Num 11:13Where could I get meat to give to all this people? For they weep to me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’
- Num 20:3The people quarreled with Moses, and spoke, saying, “We wish that we had died when our brothers died before Yahweh!
- Job 34:37For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”
- 2 Chr 32:19They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men’s hands.
- Rev 13:6He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven.
- Rom 9:20But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?”
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 78:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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