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The Beginning of the End
Moses’ Love for Erring Israel
Divine glory appeared in the cloud above the tabernacle and
a voice spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Get away from among this
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congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.”
Moses lingered in this terrible crisis, showing a true shepherd’s
interest for the flock of his care. He pleaded that God might not
completely destroy the people of His choice.
But wrath had gone out and the plague was doing its work of
death. Following his brother’s instructions, Aaron took a censer and
hurried into the middle of the congregation to “make atonement for
them.” “And he stood between the dead and the living.” The plague
was stopped, but not until fourteen thousand Israelites lay dead.
Now the people were compelled to believe the unwelcome truth
that they were to die in the wilderness. “Surely we die,” they ex-
claimed, “we perish, we all perish!” They confessed that they had
sinned in rebelling against their leaders and that Korah and his com-
pany had experienced the just judgment of God.
Don’t the same evils still exist that were at the heart of Korah’s
ruin? Pride and ambition are all around, opening the door to envy
and power struggles. People become separated from God and un-
consciously drawn into the ranks of Satan. Like Korah and his
companions, many are thinking, planning, and working so eagerly
to exalt themselves that they are ready to twist the truth, lying about
and misrepresenting the Lord’s servants. By continuing to repeat
lies, they finally come to believe it to be true.
The Hebrews were not willing to submit to the Lord’s directions
and restrictions. They were unwilling to receive correction. This
was the secret of their complaints against Moses. All through the
history of the church, God’s servants have had to meet the same
spirit.
Rejection of light darkens the mind and hardens the heart, mak-
ing it easier to take the next step in sin, to reject even clearer light,
until habits of wrongdoing finally become set in the heart. The
person who faithfully preaches God’s word and condemns sin is too
often repaid with hatred. Soothing their consciences with lies, jeal-
ous and resentful people spread conflict in the church and weaken
the hands of those who want to build it up.