In my daily reading, I came across an event that happened that makes absolutely no common sense to me. The event is found in Numbers chapter 16. And at first I thought, “Oh, this is just another thing that happened back then. It is just how it goes back then.” But as I meditated on the principle that could be learned from this, I noticed that applying this principle to my life today is significant in my walk with the Lord in holiness.
In Numbers 16, a large number of leaders rebelled against Moses and Aaron, which means that they were rebelling against the Lord. Korah and “250 princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown (v.2)” came up against Moses and Aaron. In essence, they said, “Who are you that you act like you are greater than the rest of God’s people? This whole congregation is set apart (holy) to the Lord. Why do you get to tell us what to do?” Korah and company had seen the advantages that the Egyptian priests had, and they wanted that prestige, power, and wealth that came along with those positions.
They did not understand that the priesthood of God is to serve others, not control others. These people were rebelling against God. God appointed Moses and Aaron to these roles because He knew what their motivations were. He also knew what Korah and company were more interested in. They would have been terrible leaders and ultimately tyrants to the rest of the congregation.
There were a couple still in the camp that had not come up with Korah and company, but were still supporting Korah and causing discord. Moses sent for them to come up with the group speaking against Moses and Aaron. However, they refused to come up, not for fear, but in defiance. They were acting as though the position that they currently held as appointed by God was not good enough for them, and they wanted more.
So, Moses instructed Korah and those who stood with him to come to the door of the tabernacle of the Lord the next day along with Moses and Aaron. They were to take censors and put incense in them like the priests were instructed to do. There were 250 censors of the people who stood in opposition to Moses and Aaron there. They all brought their censors with incense to the door of the tabernacle of the Lord, put fire in them, stood at the door of the tabernacle. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all of the congregation. Everyone in the camp could see this act of defiance on behalf of Korah and his supporters. That is when God told Moses and Aaron to move away from the others so that He could “consume them in a moment (v.21).” However, instead of moving, Moses and Aaron “fell on their faces (v.22),” and interceded on behalf of the company that supported Korah, the leader of the rebellion. So the Lord told Moses to instruct everyone from the congregation of Israel to get away from Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. They were not to mingle with them or even touch their stuff. These openly defiant people along with their families were separated from, and after some more instruction from Moses, God caused the earth to split open and swallow up those men and their families.
As I kept reading this, I came to verse 41, which says, “On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron.” This is what does not make sense to me. They just saw what the Lord did to those who were openly defiant and complained against who God put in the position of leadership for this giant congregation of peoples. They just saw the day before how the earth split open, swallowed up a bunch of people, and then closed up on itself. And now, they are complaining that Moses and Aaron? God executed judgment on those who rejected His instructions. Moses and Aaron interceded for those other people that did not perish but that openly supported Korah and company. However, these people were complaining? I don’t understand that logic.
In complaining against Moses and Aaron, the Lord came down to the tabernacle and told Moses and Aaron to get away from the congregation so that He could “consume them in a moment (v.44).” Again, Moses and Aaron fell on their faces pleading with God not to do this. They were interceding on behalf of those who were rejecting them. Jesus said, while He was on the cross being crucified, “Forgive them for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).” He was interceding for the people who rejected Him also.
Now, let’s say you were in a position of leadership. These ungrateful people that you lead kept complaining about how you were leading, and they kept questioning what you were doing all the time. The owner heard them complaining and questioning you. He said to you and your assistant that he was going to fire all of them. Would you say to the boss, “please don’t. Please give them another chance”? Or would you, like me in that scenario, say, “good, I’m tired them anyway. We can hire other people who might be more grateful and helpful and who would understand that I’m just trying to do the best I can for my boss and help them”? Does this sound like something you would say?
I am just saying that I don’t understand how someone could see the event of the people getting swallowed up by the ground and then the next day complain. I would be terrified to say anything negative against the people that God placed in charge of our group. Am I wrong? There would be no way that I would say anything after seeing that! But here they are, complaining away like it never happened.
Some of us are out here doing some things that don’t make common sense to the rest of us. I am not saying that we can’t say anything about what our circumstances are. I am just saying if you see a cataclysmic event happen and you don’t learn from it, the chances of it happening again is questionably higher. Maybe I am looking at this from a different angle or perspective than others. So I ask anyone reading this to respond with your understanding of this situation as it applies to today.
Gotta go fill up my cup…..
Coffee with Candee 