During their years of wandering, the Israelites often grumbled for the “delicacies” of Egypt. On one occasion — after being gloriously freed from slavery and watching manna fall from the sky — they longed for meat. Fed up with the complaining, God gave them what they asked for — so much, in fact, that it made them sick — and then He sent a plague. The dead were buried, and the place was called Kibroth-hattaavah (Num. 11:34). This name means “Graves of Craving.”

The Israelites had experienced countless miracles, yet they were still slaves to their cravings. They got what they wanted, but it sickened them and then prompted God’s wrath so that they died. In a sense, the Israelites dug their own graves. When we don’t keep our appetites in check, we’re in danger of doing the same.

Cravings are seductive but often subtle, luring us a little at a time, offering pleasure and comfort. And because so many of the things we crave are instantly accessible and acceptable in our society, we assume they can’t be that bad. So we indulge those cravings, blotting out any genuine hunger for God.

We try to satisfy our cravings with excessive food, extramarital sex, busyness, spending, or social media — and soon we feel spiritually dead. We’ve crawled into the Graves of Craving.

Today, take stock: Do you hunger for God, or do you crave the pleasures the world offers? Have you convinced yourself that your cravings are harmless, or that you have a right to certain diversions?

“I long for You in the night; yes, my spirit within me diligently seeks You” (Isa. 26:9).