Israel's repeated longing to return to Egypt reveals attitudes that believers are just as prone to today. In Exodus 16:2-3 they pined for pots of meat and bread in Egypt, a comfort that was largely fiction for slaves, and so chose imagined comfort over faith. Likewise, trials can tempt believers to wait for relief rather than grow in character, and comfort becomes the enemy of God when it is chosen over spiritual growth. In Numbers 14:2-3 Israel wanted to go back after the spies' report, and even threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb, who urged trust in God. This showed a wrong view of freedom: Israel measured it by physical condition, wanting reward without responsibility, when true freedom from Egypt brings the responsibility of faith, obedience, and effort. Believers likewise can refuse the way of escape God provides because it requires work. Acts 7:39-40 shows that Israel "in their hearts turned back to Egypt" and made a golden calf out of fear of the unknown. Fear can feel instinctive, but choosing fear is choosing to opt out of faith, and it resists the Holy Spirit, as Stephen told the council in Acts 7:51. Stephen himself modeled choosing faith over fear. These accounts are recorded so that believers will choose growth, true freedom, and faith rather than stagnation, slavery, and fear.