Numbers 16:1-50
16:1-3 Once grateful for Moses, some of the children begin to turn against him out of jealousy. Despite his fear and inadequacy, Moses journeyed to Egypt on fierce faith in effort to save them. Moses did not have to do that. He was free. He was safe. He had left Egypt and his enemies had all died and forgotten their anger against him. Instead, Moses selflessly went back for the children of Israel enslaved in Egypt.
Yet now, any gratitude they had is used up. This is part of the reason why God cautions us against putting our faith and our self value in humans. We must not allow others or our actions to determine our value because often, what we do is forgotten. How people feel about us can fade and change. Psalm 16:8 is perfect advice for us: I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
God's love does not fade or change. It is constant, steadfast, and always full. So when you feel downtrodden and unappreciated by the people in your life, remember that you are sustained by the Lord. He's the one who is proud of you and cheering you on. He has loved you since before the earth, since he formed you in the womb, Psalm 139:13!
Another lesson: jealousy is destruction. It is ingratitude and petulance in tangible form. Cain was jealous of Abel. Sarah was jealous of Hagar. Esau jealous of Jacob. The Sadducees and the Pharisees were so jealous of Jesus they pretended He was a criminal just to that they could retain their power. Resentment festers and destroys opportunities, relationships and good people:
- James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
- Proverbs 14:30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.
If you want something, work for it. If you do not have something, you might be better off without it. What is meant for others is not always meant for you. Build strong relationships in which you can communicate your fears or worries or needs.
How much more productive would it have been for these jealous men to have a conversation with Moses? They could have requested more responsibility. They could have reached out to God and asked Him to work with them. Instead, in jealously the just resort to futile anger.
16:4-6 Moses' response is for these people to take up their issues with God. Hallelujah, right? Moses subtly reminds them that God chooses who to appoint. We do not choose to be appointed by God. When we bring ourselves to Him, He gets to know us, comes to trust us and see what we are capable of and willing to do. He appoints us for great purposes... and great responsibilities.
16:7 Moses also cautions them because remember Luke 12:48, to whom much is given, much will be required of him. Are you prepared for the responsibility? Once you know better, you are expected do better, 2 Peter 2:21.
16:8-11 Moses reminds them that it is no small thing that God has done for them either. By God, we are each differently-enabled. Differently gifted. He delegates different responsibilities to each of us, Corinthians 12. Moses reminds them that God has interacted with them. The problem is that what the children of Israel really want is notoriety among men. They want to be famous. Beloved by the world. Rather than actually do the work of God they just want the fame of it.
But God only works with the humble. His most dutiful workers are those who work tirelessly in anonymity. Moses shied away from this position of leadership. He did not want the fame. He's an under-the-radar kind of guy. Did Jesus come to be worshiped? No, Jesus came to work. To serve, Matthew 20:28. If the messiah came to serve how can we demand celebration of ourselves?
16:12-14 Some of the children of Israel begin to challenge Moses. Bold or stupid? Let's decide. They're in the desert and without God, literally without a wing or a prayer! Common sense would caution them to continue to follow the one who led them out of captivity and arranged for food in the middle of a desert! The one who continued to deliver on guiding them into God's promises. But as we well know: what place does common sense have in this world? Very little.
The children of Israel continue to stamp their feet like spoiled children. Have humans graduated from such behavior? Unfortunately not. This is why we continue to study: the Bible is a study on human behavior. We can learn from the children of Israel because we are so often like them. Consider even the leaders of the modern world... are they as dignified as they would like you to believe? Pay careful attention. Are the people running social and educational institutions always logical and sensible? No! Because they are humans and no human has it all figured out.
The children of Israel demand constant prizes but they never want to earn them. They always abandon their faith before receiving them. They quickly sink back into unbelief and petulance.
16:15 Moses is angry because of this petulance, the illogical nature of their complaints. Previously, Moses has pleaded with God to forgive this group but he does not want them to get off too freely either.
16:16-19 Gather together, Moses instructs, and prepare to present your concerns to the Lord.
16:20-21 God's immediate response is... awesome. God says: Moses, Aaron... back up. I'm just going to flush the whole bunch right now. Do you know why God responds this way? Because God does not have time for petulant, selfish behavior! God does not entertain frivolity. It is a waste of His time.
If you have a logical concern, He is all ears. If you earnest request more responsibility, He is prepared to give it. But if you come to him whining, He's going to send you away.
16:22 Moses and Aaron plead for the lives of the children of Israel once again. They do not want to see the entire group punished because of mutiny by a few. We know that God will always have enough mercy to save an entire city even for only a handful of good people, Genesis 18.
16:23-24 God basically answers: Fine, I won't flush them into non-existence... but get them away from Me. God does not even listen to their complaints because he knows that the nature of their hearts is corrupt. Do not try to fool God, He knows what is in your heart, Jeremiah 17:10. If you pray to Him for some selfish reason, He is not going to give you any attention.
16:25-27 And so the corrupt-complainers, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram are cut off from the group. God continues to winnow, Matthew 3:12. He's always eliminating the corruption. It all begins with His faithful children bringing the matter to His door. Moses said: God, this is what is going on. Please handle it. And He does!
16:28 Moses has a few instructive parting words: By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. Moses explains that he is not famous or amazing. God is famous and amazing. God made the plan and carried out the plan through Moses. Moses did not volunteer; Moses was not prepared. God prepared Moses because He saw a good heart in him. If you take care of your heart, ensure that it is good, God will prepare you, also... for something grand and impossible.
Moses explains that divine wonders will happen to this people and because of God alone! It's not because of something I have done... it is because of everything He does. Their lives have been made extraordinary by His will and works, not any mans.
16:29-30 Moses prophesies that any person who rejects God (and thereby rejects justice and compassion, love and truth and life) will be swallowed up, alive, into a pit. God reserves every soul for examination.
16:31-33 And just as Moses prophesied, the men are swallowed up, alive into a pit. Earthquake? Sinkhole? No matter how God did it or does it, He ultimately separates good from evil. It was a necessary concept to be understand in the beginnings of this faith.
16:34 Needless to say, the whole sinkhole phenomenon caught the attention of the camp: God means business, oh no! We cannot continue to live in frivolity without consequences. This is God's tough-love in action.
16:35 God often separates and refines through this metaphor of fire, 1 Peter 1:7, Psalm 12:6.
16:36-38 The corrupt men are explained to have sinned against their souls. We were made in God's image, Genesis 1:27. Therefore our souls are of Him. He is goodness; when we contradict our soul we go against what should be our nature. God reiterates that these were corrupt people... and corruption is eliminated by Him.
16:39-40 The children of Israel are cautioned to respect God's will. He does not respond happily to injustice and corruption.
16:41 The books of Exodus and Numbers really show us how much humans complain! The children of Israel still have complaints against Moses and Aaron, despite everything that has happened. They completely missed the lesson; they did not pay attention.
16:42-45 And God basically says: Moses, Aaron... back up. The children of Israel are on the brink of being consumed. But Moses and Aaron remember God's nature and follow the advice of Jesus in John 15:13. They lay their lives down for their friends.
16:46-50 Moses and Aaron work to atone on behalf of the children of Israel. God compromises: He continues to winnow out the evil instead of growing fed-up with the whole lot.
God's forbearance be praised!
