Week 10 Day 6 Don't Kill the Messenger

Numbers 16

You just kind of have to feel for Moses. Here he was living this quiet life, keeping to himself, when a burning bush sent him to Egypt to repeatedly ask Pharaoh to let God's people go. And then he got to hear "NO" over and over, sometimes in some not so nice ways. Finally, they get the go-ahead to leave. Then the poor man is left wandering with bunches and bunches of Israelites. And the Israelites are not happy people. They complain about everything. Anything. ALL things. And their messenger? Poor Moses. He gets messages from God then shares them with the people who in turn get really angry with Moses when they don't like what they hear (which is often).

So in this chapter, four men come before Moses with an army of 250 people behind them (Really? 250. Out of thousands and thousands, you found 250 to back you?)

Now I am just thinking, God has shown Himself over and over to these people. He has also shown Moses' favor with Him. I mean, He took Moses up on the mountain and showed Himself to Moses, so much that Moses' face was radiant when he came down.

Wouldn't you think that the people would kind of know where Moses and God stand with each other?

Hmmm...

Guess not.

These four men come to Moses and tell Moses that ALL of the people are holy (aren't these the same people who crafted a golden cow when Moses was on the mountain TALKING to God???). They want to know why Moses think he is better than they are.

I have to say, I would have been tempted, had I been Moses, to call out to God, "God, strike these people down."

Alas, Moses is a better man than I. Of course, I am not a man or anything...

Anyway, Moses tells the people to come back the next day.

I think they should have been shaking in their boots.

Instead, they met Moses at the Meeting Tent.

As expected, God was unhappy. REALLY unhappy. So unhappy that he had the ground swallow up the men and their families and anyone else who didn't vacate the premises. Swallow them up! Then fire burned up the army of 250.

God had spoken.

So the people knew what happened. Don't you think there would have been a little fear there? Um, guess not.

The next day the people started grumbling against Moses and Aaron again. They actually tell Moses that HE is responsible for the death of the people the day before.

I know, I know. It is hard not to shake my head a thousand times.

Really?

All that comes to mind right now is the old saying, "Here's Your Sign..."

Oh, the consequences for that? Sickness that killed several thousand. A sickness that only stopped when Aaron (one they had complained against) prayed for the people and asked God to stop...

Sigh.

Shake of the head.

What are these people thinking?

Tomorrow's reading? Numbers 17 (I think)

Reba