Numbers 16 Whom God Chose
Moses is having trouble with usurpers again. Not Aaron and Miriam but a group of 250. They are doubting whom God chose.
I SO GLAD I didn’t live in the time of Moses and the Law. I have been known to ‘work’ on the Sabbath. I have even been known to doubt that God really sent specific people. I’m not going to go into details on that issue, as HE is the Judge, not me. And He uses whomever HE chooses.
I don’t know for certain, but it looks to me like the group trying to take control is responding to the death of one of the people of Israel. I’m going to start there with our story. If I’m wrong about their motives, they God can redirect me along the way. He certainly knows how to do that! Let’s join the congregation as Moses is faced with another problem. One of enforcement.
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It is the fist day of another week. The Sabbath has ended and the camp gets back to its normal weekly routines. Caring for the animals, teaching the children, following God wherever He leads, arguing with your neighbors… Moses steps out of his tent to go to the entrance of the Tabernacle. It is here that he judges between the people. Because, from here, he has close access to the Lord’s presence.
Moses groans inwardly as he sees that there is already a line of people waiting for his instructions. “Just once, I would like to getup and see everyone getting and I have no judgments to render in the day” he thinks to himself. With a smile on his face, he takes his place.
Several matters go by with Moses rendering judgment between the parties fairly easily. Moses begins to wonder why they were not dealt with by on of the judges. Then, a matter comes before him that has his full attention.
“My lord, this man was caught breaking the Sabbath.”
“Tell me what he did.”
“He was gathering sticks in the wilderness.”
“And how to you know this?”
“We all saw him and brought him here to you to judge.
“What do you have to say to these charges” Moses asks the man.
“I didn’t have any sticks for my fire. My wife needs them to cook our meals. And to warm our children.”
“There are six days in which you may work and gather your sticks. It is commendable that you are caring for your family, but the Sabbath is holy to the Lord. You KNOW this.”
The man dropped his eyes to the ground and said no more.
“I must go and speak with the Lord. This man does not deny his guilt, but it is for the Lord to pass judgment.”
The group who had brought the man before Moses held him fast.
Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to seek the Lord’s will.
“Lord God of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob and of this company, I need Your direction. The man before me surely knew Your Laws regarding the Sabbath. He chose to break those Laws. It was a small task he was engaging in, but he KNEW it was wrong. What would You have me do with him?”
““The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” (Numbers 15:35).
Moses is shocked by the Lord’s verdict, but he will not argue with Him. The man KNEW he was breaking God’s Law. Maybe God was trying to send a strong enough message that others would remember it when they were tempted to break the Lord’s Sabbath.
“It will be done, exactly as You have commanded Lord.”
Moses exited the Tent and returned to his place before the people.
“This is what the Lord has commanded. This man is to be taken outside the camp and stoned by the whole congregation.”
There were a few gasps, but most of the people nodded their heads in agreement.
Moses turned to Aaron. “Have the two silver trumpets blown so the rest of the people will assemble. This is for all the congregation to partake in.”
Aaron sounded the trumpets and the people began to assemble. Once everyone was present, Moses addressed them.
“People of Israel, this man was found breaking the Sabbath by gathering sticks in the wilderness. This is a clear breach of God’s Laws. And as such, the Lord has passed judgment on him. The Lord has commanded that he be taken outside the camp and stoned to death. The Lord has further commanded that this sentence be carried out by the congregation. We will follow what the Lord has called us to do.”
Moses began walking towards the edge of the camp. As he moved, he called out, “Follow me.”
Moses led the man to a solitary place. “Stand here” he told him. To the people, he called out, “Form a circle around us, and gather stones as you go.”
When the people had fully encircled Moses and the man, Moses turned to the man. Moses speaks loud enough that ALL the congregation can hear. “This is the Lord’s judgment; not mans. For it is the Lord’s Laws that you have broken. Receive the righteous judgment of the Lord.”
Moses left the man standing in the middle of the circle. As he moved to join the circle, he bent down and picked up two rocks that were in his path of travel.
The man stayed exactly where Moses had left him. With his head hung in shame, he waited. The men who had brought him to Moses in the first place threw the first stones. Instantly thousands of stones followed theirs. In minutes the man’s body lay battered and broken on the ground.
Moses stepped forward to see if he still lived. His chest did not rise or fall and his eyes were glazed over. “It is finished” announced Moses. “See to his burial” Moses commanded of the men who had brought him forward for his sin.
Moses walked back into the camp. His heart was heavy for the loss. Yet, his trust in the Lord’s justice gave him strength to go on.
When the congregation left the place of judgment, there were men who were angry with the sentence handed down. As soon as Moses left, they came together to discuss what they had witnessed. The leader of this group was Korah. He was one of the Levites serving the Lord by carrying the most holy items of the Tabernacle, including the Ark of the Covenant. His co-leaders of this discontented group were Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben. They were other leaders of the congregation who chose to join them. Their number reached 250. They spoke together in the hushed voices.
“Moses has gone too far this time. We are all holy. WE should have made the decision regarding judgment. God could have spoken to ANY of us. He shouldn’t be exalting himself above us. We are ALL leaders too.”
Heads nodded and a pact was made to confront Moses before this day ended.
Moses moves aside the door to the Tent of Meeting, after spending time with the Lord. This is his custom each evening. As he emerges from the Tent, he notices a group of men standing just inside the outer courtyard door. One of the first things he notices about the group before him is that they are all leaders of their clans. Men he put in place upon Jethro’s instructions. Moses does a quick count and sees that there are 250 men standing before him.
Before Moses can even utter a word, Korah steps forth and speaks. “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” (Numbers 16:3)
Moses fell on his face in fear of the Lord when he heard their words. He didn’t know for certain that God wasn’t going to strike them where they stood. After a moment, he stood and addressed the assembled men. “In the morning the Lord will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him. Do this: take censers, Korah and all his company; put fire in them and put incense on them before the Lord tomorrow, and the man whom the Lord chooses shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!” (Numbers 5-7)
After this, Moses spoke directly to Korah. “Hear now, you sons of Levi:…” Moses pointed his finger at Korah. “…is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel,…” Moses swept his arms wide to encompass the Tabernacle. “…to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister to them,…” Moses pointed directly to the Tent of Meeting and the cloud standing over it. “…and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also?…” Moses took a step closer to Korah and narrowed his eyes. “…Therefore it is against the Lord that you and all your company have gathered together…” Moses next shook his head in disgust. “…What is Aaron that you grumble against him?” (Numbers 16:8-11)
Moses called for Dathan and Abiram to stand before him. But they refused. They spoke from where they stood in the front of the crowd.
“We will not come up…” said Dathan with arms crossed. “…Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince over us?…” Dathan pointed a finger at Moses. “…Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards…” Dathan swept his arms to encompass those standing with him. “…Will you put out the eyes of these men?…” Dathan recrossed his arms and with defiance dripping from every syllable, he stated, “…We will not come up.” (Numbers 16:12b-14)
Moses’ eyes narrowed and his fists clenched in anger at Dathan’s accusation. Moses turned towards the pillar that had turned to fire with the sinking of the sun. He spoke directly to the Lord in the hearing of all. “Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed one of them.” (Numbers 16:15b)
Moses then turned back to the group and addresses them once more. He speaks directly to Korah again. “Be present, you and all your company, before the Lord, you and they, and Aaron, tomorrow. And let every one of you take his censer and put incense on it, and every one of you bring before the Lord his censer, 250 censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer.” (Numbers 16:16-17)
Moses turned his back on the group and went back into the Tent of Meeting. The men gathered together were not ‘brave’ enough to follow. They left the entrance of the Tabernacle and started walking back to their tents, discussing plans for the morning.
“Will you all be there with me” asks Korah.
“We will. And we will prove to Moses that WE are just as capable as he is of leading this number.”
“And that WE are just as holy as he is!”
While they walk away, Moses is bowed down before the Lord. “Lord God, if I have erred and exalted myself wrongly, please let it be known to me. If not, let it be known tomorrow whom YOU choose. I do NOT doubt Your calling on my life. For You know I tried to resist in. Yet You would not allow me to do so. This people are certainly a stubborn and stiff-necked people. But they are YOUR stubborn and stiff-necked people. Show them YOUR will tomorrow morning.”
“I will my child. You can be certain of that. And there will be NO room left for doubt.”
Moses felt the comfort of the Lord’s assurance as he rose to leave the Tent for the evening. Tomorrow would be an important day.
The next morning, all the 250 men brought their censors to the door of the Tabernacle. Each ignited a fire in the bowl of their censor and put incense on it. Aaron also put fire in his censor and laid incense on it.
The news of this confrontation had spread through the camp during the night. All the congregation watched as the men stood before them. Korah tried to rouse the congregation to support him.
Thunder rumbled and the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” (Numbers 16:21)
Moses and Aaron immediately fell on their faces. Moses pleaded with the Lord. “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” (Numbers 16:22b)
The congregation heard Moses’ plea on their behalf. They didn’t hear the words that the Lord spoke, but they recognized the urgency in Moses’ words. They knew that something terrible was about to happen, if not for Moses’ intercession on their part; again. They stood silent, and waited.
The Lord spoke to Moses again. “Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.” (Numbers 16:23)
Moses went to the tents of Dothan and Abiram. The elders and the congregation followed him. As soon as he stood before their dwelling places, he turned to address the congregation. “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins.” (Numbers 16:26)
The people immediately began scrambling away from the area occupied by Dothan and Abiram. They KNEW God was about to make Himself known, and they didn’t want to get caught in the middle of it.
Dothan and Abiram had moved to stand with their families beside their tents. Moses looked directly at the two of them as he addressed those watching. “Hereby you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord. If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the Lord.” (Numbers 16:28-30)
As the last syllable passed Moses’ lips, the ground split open beneath them like the mouth of a HUGE fish. ALL of the households of both Dothan and Abiram were swallowed alive. Their tents, their belongings, and even their cooking fires disappeared with screams. The earth then closed back over them while the screams were still being carried on the wind.
Those of the congregation who were watching added their screams to the mix as they fled to their own tents. Their reasoning was that they didn’t want the earth to open up and swallow them too.
The 250 leaders received a different judgment from the Lord. Each and Every One of Them, who had offered incense to the Lord were consumed with fire; just as Aaron’s two sons had been for offering unauthorized incense.
As soon as the fire died, the Lord spoke to Moses again. “Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the censers out of the blaze. Then scatter the fire far and wide, for they have become holy. As for the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they offered them before the Lord, and they became holy. Thus they shall be a sign to the people of Israel.” (Numbers 16:37-39)
Eleazar did exactly as the Lord had commanded. This would be a warning to ALL that NO ONE outside of the line of Aaron would be allowed to burn incense and come before the Lord.
Moses was glad this day was over. He retired to his tent after spending time with the Lord. He had thanked the Lord for showing Himself so clearly to the people. “This should be the last time we have to deal with this issue” he told the Lord.
Moses nearly tripped as he stepped out of his tent the next morning to see the entire congregation gathered, waiting on him. Moses did not address them until he was standing before the Tabernacle again.
“What is going on?”
“You have killed the people of the Lord.” (Numbers 16:41b)
Moses eyes went wide in disbelief. “How could they have missed the point so horribly!” he thinks.
Moses and Aaron turn toward the Tent of Meeting and see the cloud pillar expand and cover the tent. The glory of the Lord shone in the cloud. Moses and Aaron then walked over to stand before the Tent of Meeting.
“Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” (Numbers 16:45)
Moses and Aaron both heard the Lord’s words and fell on their faces before Him. Moses then spoke to Aaron with much haste. “Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the Lord; the plague has begun.” (Numbers 16:46)
Aaron rose quickly and put fire and incense in his censer. He ran into the congregation and began to make atonement for them. The plague of death that the Lord had sent on them stopped at the place where Aaron made atonement. Aaron stood between the living and the dead.
Once Aaron could see that no more of the people were being struck down, he returned to Moses with his censor. Together they watched as those who had been cleansed of their sin carried their brothers from the camp for burial.
At the close of the day, a tally had been made of those who had died that day. There were 14,700 more who had added their names to the number who stood with Korah in his rebellion. This was a costly lesson that Moses prayed would never be repeated. God had clearly chosen who would stand for Him.
(to be continued)
It BLOWS MY MIND to read of one rebellion following immediately on the heals of the first. HOW could they not see the truth of God’s choice, the FIRST time? I understand them not learning from Aaron and Miriam’s lesson. It wasn’t viewed by all the congregation. It was a private lesson. But to lose another 14,700 people on the heals of MORE than 250 people! I just don’t get it! Talk about stubborn and stiff-necked people.
Father God, I PRAY I don’t force You to teach me lessons so soundly! I pray I learn the FIRST TIME around. Thank You for keeping me coming back to You. I KNOW it is not my place to stand in a place like Moses’, and I’m GLAD of that! He had a HARD road to walk. But he NEVER walked it alone. Any more than I walk any road alone.
