Numbers 16 – 18
Verse 16:3 shows that people questioned Moses’ authority within those who witnessed the miracles:
You’ve taken this leadership way too far. We are all holy; indeed each individual is holy to our God. The Eternal One is present among the entire congregation. How can you presume to be better than any of us, the Eternal’s chosen community?
Everyone seems to think Moses came down from the mountain with God’s word and things were fine. Sure they rebelled a few times, but nothing major. Well this story shows it happened more than a few times and God dealt with the people aggressively.
Verse 16:35 shows God’s “wrath”:
A fire shot out from the Eternal One and incinerated the 250 men who were offering the incense on Korah’s behalf.
One of the doctrines in many churches is God is the same as He always has been. I tend to disagree since often times we see in the Torah, God fuming and ready to destroy all of Israel, yet Moses stands in to calm Him down. If God was the same then why are we not feeling the wrath like Sodom and Gomorrah? I tend to think God has mellowed … where early it was like a new father who cannot figure out this new child and sometimes loses it. Then later in life that same child now has their own and the father (now a grandfather) is mellow. Israel has grown up and the Christian church is the grandkids of that great nation. I would love clarity on this, since it’s something I don’t seem to have the answer to at this time.
Verse 17:10 shows God’s frustration:
Eternal One (to Moses): 10 Return Aaron’s staff to the tent and place it in front of the covenant, to serve as a reminder of whom I’ve chosen to lead this people. Let it be a warning to any who would question or undermine your leadership. I have made My choice clear and will kill anyone who persists in challenging it.
See I can’t understand why God doesn’t kill most of us today. Heck I can’t think of how many times I have crossed the line and should have been stuck down. These people are just questioning God on who He has given authority. Have you been angry at God for what has happened? Should any of us die when we question that decision? See why I believe God has changed and “mellowed.”