January 31, 2022 - Numbers 16-19

Korah led a revolt against Moses and Aaron, accusing them of elitism and arrogance: “"You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” (16:3) The complainers were not just your everyday Joes. They were “250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men” (16:2). Might we paraphrase their complaint? How about: “Why not me? Why not me?” Well, God was having none of this “me-ism” stuff. He sent a plague among the people resulting in the death of almost 15,000 people. Furthermore, the very ones whom Korah, et al, attacked – Moses and Aaron – were exalted by the Lord before the tabernacle.

Affirmed, once again, as leaders, Moses and Aaron gave instructions to the priests and regarding the sacrifice of the red heifer for the purifying of the people before the Lord. It’s amazing, isn’t it, that God never washes his hands completely of Israel in spite of her continued stubbornness and unfaithfulness. However the people acted, God would have a purified people, ultimately through the blood, not of the animal sacrifices, but that of his own dear son. May our eyes always be upon him!

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

naught be all else to me, save that thou art.

Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

waking or sleeping, thy presence my light. –Old Irish Hymn