242
From Eternity Past
Unfair Attack on Moses
But many were not ready to accept Korah’s accusations against
Moses. His patient, self-sacrificing labors came up before them, and
conscience was disturbed. It was therefore necessary to assign some
selfish motive; the old charge was reiterated, that he had led them out
to perish in the wilderness that he might seize their possessions.
As soon as the movement gained sufficient strength to warrant an
open rupture, Korah publicly accused Moses and Aaron of usurping
authority. “Ye take too much upon you,” said the conspirators. “Seeing
all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among
them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of
the Lord?”
Moses had not suspected this deep-laid plot, and he fell upon
his face in silent appeal to God. He arose calm and strong. Divine
guidance had been granted. “Even tomorrow,” he said, “the Lord will
show who are His, and who is holy and ... whom He hath chosen will
He cause to come near unto Him.” Those who aspired to the priesthood
were to come each with a censer and offer incense at the tabernacle.
Even the priests, Nadab and Abihu, had been destroyed for venturing
to offer “strange fire” in disregard of a divine command. Yet Moses
challenged his accusers, if they dared enter upon so perilous an appeal,
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to refer the matter to God.
Singling out Korah and his fellow Levites, Moses said, “Seemeth
it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you
from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself to do
the service of the tabernacle of the Lord ...? And He hath brought
thee near to Him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and
seek ye the priesthood also? for which cause thou and all thy company
are gathered together against the Lord. And what is Aaron, that ye
murmur against him?”
Dathan and Abiram had not taken so bold a stand as had Korah;
and Moses summoned them to appear before him, that he might hear
their charges against him. But they insolently refused to acknowledge
his authority: “Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of
a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness,
except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? Moreover thou
hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or