On another forum someone asked the following question:
When the Israelites left captivity, they left in a hurry, but took their livestock with them. In Exodus 10:25 Moses tells Pharaoh they needed the animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings, In Exodus 16, the Israelites are grumbling because they are hungry so God send manna for them to eat. We know that they still had the livestock, because in Exodus Chapter 17 they are grumbling again for water for themselves and their cattle (livestock).
Were the cattle (livestock) only for sacrifice? While they were wandering in the wilderness, they weren’t very obedient and it doesn’t tell us that they kept the Passover. While they were camped at Mt. Sinai there was some shenanigans going on (making a golden calf and such).
Once the generation died that had left Egypt and they were ready to finally enter the Promised Land, the first thing they did was get back into fellowship with God. They re-established the covenant of circumcision (Joshua 5:7-9) and they also celebrated Passover for the first time since they left Egypt. At this point the manna stopped.
Now, my question is, since they were not obedient to God for all those years, why didn’t they eat the cattle? They stopped and camped along the way, so they could have done butchering. The animals came with them and didn’t all die off (young ones had to have been born). God did send them quail, but I just can’t find a satisfactory reason for them not to have eaten the cattle. What do you think?
Well....what do you think? One of the answers was that there wouldn't have been an abundance of cattle (because of the plagues in Egypt) so they conserved them. It seems a 40 year span would have given them time to multiply.
Anyway, it's an interesting question and I wondered what your thoughts would be.
........Ping
[Exodus 10:25-26] And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither. This is before the institution of the Passover but Moses knows that the animals are to be used for sacrifice. Pharaoh says, "No way!"
While they were wandering in the wilderness, they weren’t very obedient and it doesn’t tell us that they kept the Passover.
[Exodus 12:24-28] And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
After every first born in Egypt is killed (including animals) Pharaoh says "O.K., take your animals and go!" [Exodus 12:32] Moses led them to the Red sea, not taking the shorter route directly into Philistine country because God did not want them to face war and perhaps change their minds and return to Egypt. [13:17]
It didn't take long for the grumbling to start. [15:24] This is the beginning of the testing phase.....[25-27] and they still grumbled [16:1-3]. They were starving to death; GRUMBLE.....GRUMBLE.....GRUMBLE!
The Lord wanted Israel to put their faith and trust in Him....and Him only! NIV[16:4] Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. That trust was knowing that He would provide meat in the evening and bread in the morning. [16:11-12]
Many people have subscribed to the idea that all the Israelites owned cattle. As far as I can tell....only the tribes of Rueben and Gad specialized in cattle raising [Numbers 32:1-5] so there may have not been enough cattle to feed 2 1/4 million people.....don't know for sure, but I do know that God wanted them eating manna......so He could continually test them. [Deuteronomy 8:3]
[Numbers 11:4-6] And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. Here we go again! First they complained that they weren't getting anything to eat......now they're complaining about what they are eating!
[Psalm 78:17:23] And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven.
Here is where they got more then they had bargained for! [Psalm 78:26_32] He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
[1 Corinthians 10:5-6] But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
[Joshua 5:10-12] And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
Sorry to go in such a round about way of saying.....I don't think there would have been enough cattle to go around and besides that......God didn't want them eating meat!