Our world reacts, sometimes with, extreme emotional response.  Back in the day, the Israelites did too!  Imagine that!  They grumbled and they disputed God’s decision of who their leaders were.  In Numbers, Moses “fell on his face” before an awesome God more times than he could probably count.

Numbers 16 recounts back-to-back defiant decisions of the Israelites, grumbling and disputing toward God’s leaders, Moses and Aaron, and most importantly, toward God Himself.

  • Korah and three men rose up against Moses vs. 2
  • 250 Israelite men joined them vs. 2

Numbers 16:3 (NIV) “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?’”

Moses responded with humility before His God and fell on his face.

The uprising continues.  Even though Moses becomes angry with the men, he vents to God that he has done everything for their good.  God’s response?  “Separate yourselves from this assembly so that I can put an end to them at once.”  Numbers 16:20 (NIV)

Guess what Moses did?  Aaron joined him and they fell on their faces and cried out, “O God, god of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assembly…?”  God’s initial response was mitigated because Moses and Aaron pleaded to Him for His people.

The Israelites reacted to their current situation with fear, anger, and pride.

Moses and Aaron fell face down to plead with God for their nation.

Think about this…!

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing.”  Philippians 2:14 (ESV)
How does your response to current world events compare to the Israelites? 
Or will you choose to respond as Moses did?

Categories: Devotions