Rebellion of Korah
353
But the judgments were not ended. Fire flashing from the cloud
consumed the two hundred and fifty princes who had offered incense.
These men, not being the first in rebellion, were not destroyed with
the chief conspirators. They were permitted to see their end, and to
have an opportunity for repentance; but their sympathies were with
the rebels, and they shared their fate.
When Moses was entreating Israel to flee from the coming de-
struction, the divine judgment might even then have been stayed, if
Korah and his company had repented and sought forgiveness. But
their stubborn persistence sealed their doom. The entire congregation
were sharers in their guilt, for all had, to a greater or less degree, sym-
pathized with them. Yet God in His great mercy made a distinction
between the leaders in rebellion and those whom they had led. The
people who had permitted themselves to be deceived were still granted
space for repentance. Overwhelming evidence had been given that
they were wrong, and that Moses was right. The signal manifestation
of God’s power had removed all uncertainty.
Jesus, the Angel who went before the Hebrews, sought to save them
from destruction. Forgiveness was lingering for them. The judgment
of God had come very near, and appealed to them to repent. A special,
irresistible interference from heaven had arrested their rebellion. Now,
if they would respond to the interposition of God’s providence, they
might be saved. But while they fled from the judgments, through fear
of destruction, their rebellion was not cured. They returned to their
tents that night terrified, but not repentant.
They had been flattered by Korah and his company until they really
believed themselves to be very good people, and that they had been
wronged and abused by Moses. Should they admit that Korah and his
company were wrong, and Moses right, then they would be compelled
to receive as the word of God the sentence that they must die in the
wilderness. They were not willing to submit to this, and they tried
to believe that Moses had deceived them. They had fondly cherished
the hope that a new order of things was about to be established, in
which praise would be substituted for reproof, and ease for anxiety
and conflict. The men who had perished had spoken flattering words
[402]
and had professed great interest and love for them, and the people
concluded that Korah and his companions must have been good men,
and that Moses had by some means been the cause of their destruction.