Why Did the Israelites "Grumble" About Not Having Meat (Basar)?

• Why did Abraham serve meat to his heavenly visitors?  (Gen. 18:7-8)

• Why did Daniel abstain from meat while he was mourning? (Dan. 10:2-3)

• Why did G-d anticipate that Jews would "crave meat" and say "I would like some meat"? (Deut. 12)

• Why did the Israelites grumble about not having any meat and say "Who will give us meat?"(Num. 11; Exodus 16)

• Why did the father upon seeing his prodigal son return, order the servants to prepare a fattened calf for a celebration? (Luke 15)

Remember the story about Peter and how he fell asleep because he was hungry and then had the vision about the meats?  I always thought that was funny.  As it happens, I've not been eating very much lately (trying to lose a few pounds) and so today I was thinking about the significance of meat to the ancient Israelite culture.

For an Israelite, meat represented G-d's special provision (Exodus 16).  It was seen as a special blessing to have meat ("then you may eat as much of it as you want").  And people were joyful when they had meat:

"There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Israel," (1 Chronicles 12)

The most important feast to an Israelite was Passover.  This was even more than a physical provision because, in addition to providing savory meat (yes, I'm definitely hungry), there was a spiritual provision:  the blood representing Yeshua's blood, the blood of family/kinship, offered a way for sinners to be reconciled with G-d.  

YET...

only the circumcised could partake of this special feast! 

Does this mean that when Yeshua returns and there is a grand celebration of Passover that the non-Jews will be excluded from the joy and fellowship and provision of the lamb feast?

I don't think so.  The goyim will be commanded to keep Passover because it says:

"All the congregation of Israel shall keep it," (Exod. 12:47)

They are part of the Edah (congregation) via Yeshua's blood.  Which means they'll have to be circumcised at some point so that they can fulfill the command to keep the Passover.

At least, that's the way I see it.  Feel free to disagree or discuss.  

Shalom and Happy Eating,

Peter