16. He made streams pour from the rock,making the waters flow down like a river!
17. Yet they kept on sinning against him,rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
18. They stubbornly tested God in their hearts,demanding the foods they craved.
19. They even spoke against God himself, saying,“God can’t give us food in the wilderness.
20. Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out,but he can’t give his people bread and meat.”
21. When the lord heard them, he was furious.The fire of his wrath burned against Jacob.Yes, his anger rose against Israel,
22. for they did not believe Godor trust him to care for them.
23. But he commanded the skies to open;he opened the doors of heaven.
24. He rained down manna for them to eat;he gave them bread from heaven.
25. They ate the food of angels!God gave them all they could hold.
26. He released the east wind in the heavensand guided the south wind by his mighty power.
27. He rained down meat as thick as dust—birds as plentiful as the sand on the seashore!
28. He caused the birds to fall within their campand all around their tents.
29. The people ate their fill.He gave them what they craved.
30. But before they satisfied their craving,while the meat was yet in their mouths,
31. the anger of God rose against them,and he killed their strongest men.He struck down the finest of Israel’s young men.