Grumbling and the Quail Plague: When Cravings Become Judgment. It didn’t take long for the freshly organized, trumpet-ready nation of Israel to lose its tune. Numbers 11 tells how complaints about hardship escalated into outright craving for Egypt’s menu. God responded with both provision and punishment. Their stomachs became their downfall—a timeless warning for anyone tempted to let appetites outrun gratitude.