19They insulted God by saying, “Can God provide food here in the desert?
20Yes, he can strike a rock so that water gushes out like flowing rivers, but can he give us bread? Can he supply his people with meat?”
21When he heard this, the Lord became very angry, burning like fire against the descendants of Jacob, furious with the people of Israel,
22for they didn't believe in God and didn't trust him to take care of them.
23Even so he commanded the skies above and the doors of heaven to open,
24and he made manna rain down on them to eat, giving them bread from heaven.
25Human beings ate the bread of angels; he sent them more than enough food.
26He sent the east wind blowing across the sky; by his power he drove the south wind.
27He rained down meat on them as plentiful as dust; birds as numerous as sand on a beach.
28He made them fall right in the middle of their camp, all around where they were living.
29They ate until they were full. He gave them the food they longed for.
30But before they satisfied their appetite, while the meat was still in their mouths,
31God became angry with them and he killed their strongest men, striking them down in the prime of life.
32Despite all this they went right on sinning. Despite the miracles, they refused to trust him.
33So he snuffed out their futile lives, bringing them to an end in terror.
34When he began killing them, the rest came back to God in repentance, praying to him.
35They remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their Savior.
36They flattered him by what they told him, but they were only lying.
37Deep down they were not sincere, and did not keep the agreement they had with him.
38But being compassionate he pardoned their guilt and did not destroy all of them. He often held back his anger—he did not pour out all his fury.