The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Numbers 16:46-48,
"Then Moses said to Aaron, 'Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started.' So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped."
Chapter 16 of the book of Numbers contains momentous events that convulsed the nation of Israel. Some of the leaders of Israel challenged Moses and Aaron, which was tantamount to challenging the Lord himself. The Lord had appointed Moses and Aaron to lead the nation and at this point Korah, Dathan, Abiram and others challenged them, "They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, 'You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord's assembly?'" Verse 3.
The response of the Lord was horrific. The earth opened up and swallowed these rebellious leaders and their entire households alive, "... the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, 'The earth is going to swallow us too!'" Verses 31-34.
If this were not enough, the very next day the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron, "You have killed the Lord's people", verse 41. This time the Lord struck the nation with a deadly plague. Moses sent Aaron into the midst of the people with a censer of incense to atone for the people. The Lord stopped the plague but not until 14,700 people had died.
I am reminded of a verse that is vital to be aware of: "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31.
We serve our wonderful God of love who sent his Son to make atonement for us. But woe to those who simply regard him as their lovey-dovey abba-daddy. (There is some misunderstanding regarding Romans 8:15 where Paul says, "And by him [the Holy Spirit] we cry, 'Abba, Father.'") God is to be feared in a reverence he is due from us.
"Then Moses said to Aaron, 'Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started.' So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped."
Chapter 16 of the book of Numbers contains momentous events that convulsed the nation of Israel. Some of the leaders of Israel challenged Moses and Aaron, which was tantamount to challenging the Lord himself. The Lord had appointed Moses and Aaron to lead the nation and at this point Korah, Dathan, Abiram and others challenged them, "They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, 'You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord's assembly?'" Verse 3.
The response of the Lord was horrific. The earth opened up and swallowed these rebellious leaders and their entire households alive, "... the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, 'The earth is going to swallow us too!'" Verses 31-34.
If this were not enough, the very next day the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron, "You have killed the Lord's people", verse 41. This time the Lord struck the nation with a deadly plague. Moses sent Aaron into the midst of the people with a censer of incense to atone for the people. The Lord stopped the plague but not until 14,700 people had died.
I am reminded of a verse that is vital to be aware of: "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31.
We serve our wonderful God of love who sent his Son to make atonement for us. But woe to those who simply regard him as their lovey-dovey abba-daddy. (There is some misunderstanding regarding Romans 8:15 where Paul says, "And by him [the Holy Spirit] we cry, 'Abba, Father.'") God is to be feared in a reverence he is due from us.
God is holy and righteous and visits horrific judgment on all who are dismissive of him. That judgment awaits the end of the age, but it is certainly on its way.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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