On more than one occasion, Israel exaggerated their state. Ten of the twelve spies who went to the Promised Land came back with exaggerated reports. They claimed that there were giants in the land who devoured the inhabitants of the land. In comparison, they saw themselves as grasshoppers. Exaggeration played out in our text too. The children of Israel cried because they felt they were starving. If that was all they would probably be excused. But they compared their state then to what life was like in Egypt. They actually meant that they missed Egypt! They claimed they ate fish in Egypt “freely”. If they were enjoying so freely why did they cry to God for deliverance? And if life was that good how come they celebrated greatly when they came out of Egypt? However we see it, an exaggeration is a form of lying. Lie distorts perspective.

In our passage it is evident that the people preferred losing their freedom if only to satisfy certain appetites. Our call to Christ is designed to change everything – taste, priorities, and all.

On the symbolic side of things, Egypt, as we know, is a picture of the world governed by Satan’s principles and philosophies. Our salvation through Christ is therefore a picture of our deliverance from the world system. Whenever we begin to act as if we miss the world, the tempter is around the corner. If we miss the world we cast a big shadow on our salvation. If we are truly delivered there should be nothing of the past life that should hold an appeal. As a matter of fact we should be ashamed of certain lifestyles associated with the world. In our passage it is evident that the people preferred losing their freedom if only to satisfy certain appetites. Our call to Christ is designed to change everything – taste, priorities, and all.