I don’t want to write on this, but I promised years ago I’d get through every part of the Bible, as far as each chapter is concerned, at least… I’m legit speechless on the fact that Korah with three others among the priesthood mentioned by their names, two of whom were descended from Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn (read Genesis 29:32 for his birth) and 250 others tried to take Moses’ priesthood away from him… I don’t even like to believe anything bad about even one human being, including an enemy of the Lord Jesus who has wilfully disgraced me and all the others with them before… this chapter that makes me wish I weren’t in a grocery store where I work (I’m still on vacation; thank God đđđđđđđđđđđđđđ I’m halfway through it right now) every so often is found in pages 88-89 of the NKJV Bible I have for this four-translation project, pages 113-114 of the NASB Bible (Old Testament), pages 179-181 of my VOICE copy, and pages 182-184 of my Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copy.
I find it interesting there’s a note somewhere in the middle of this chapter (in the VOICE version) that says everyone could experience God’s glory, but this isn’t good news, seeing that the two Reubenites had complained about both the promise land being bad and claiming their experience in Egypt to be good and that Moses was like a thoughtless dictator đđđđđđđđđ he was furious concerning this. And I don’t blame him! Indeed, I actually sometimes pray to God that He would kill those who destroyed everyone’s peace when I’m working at Fry’s! That’s not something I enjoy anyway, prayers like these. Yet Jeremiah would later pray things like in Jeremiah 18:21-23 â who doesn’t rage against the violent people from time to time? I work in Gilbert, where it’s supposed to be safe for an American town, but I guess no blessing cannot be cursed into oblivion later, even if it actually is from God! And He seemed short of patience, yet thankfully, it says in 1 Timothy 1:16 that He never grows impatient with anyone, such as you, the reader of this post. I think He only said what He had said in verse 21 here to stir Moses and Aaron to plead for His mercy đĽ°đĽ°đĽ°đĽ°đĽ°đđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđâ¤ď¸âđĽâ¤ď¸âđĽâ¤ď¸âđĽâ¤ď¸âđĽâ¤ď¸âđĽâ¤ď¸âđĽâ¤ď¸âđĽâ¤ď¸âđĽâ¤ď¸âđĽâ¤ď¸âđĽđŻđŻđŻđŻđŻ
And when I read verses 28-33 here, I noticed the earth opening its mouth and swallowing the 254 people (the 250 with Korah and his three co-leaders had probably been a rough estimate, which is important to differentiate between Numbers 25:9 and 1 Corinthians 10:8, since they say 24,000 and 23,000 people, respectively â there’s no contradictions in the Bible, so neither writer probably had any idea what the other had written) was pretty extraordinary, and I’d rather nor die in my sins like these guys did. I don’t want an unrepentant soul! Nor do I want to be fake about it… indeed, I’ve mentioned to several of my friends, both among our former Awaken crew (I used to attend the Awaken young adult group at Two Rivers, but I’m 35, now, and had aged out in early 2024) and at work, that I don’t think I’m as kind as I want to be. I hate it. But I did look at images of Hawai’i and French Polynesia đľđŤ through Google Maps this week so far to fill my mind and heart with pure bliss, since I want to go on several mission trips one day, and also take a vacation on both areas for several weeks each. Heck, I think it’d be cool to live there đđđđđđđđđ¸đŽđľđşđŚđłđđŹđŚđđ đĄđŚđđŚđŚđŚđŚđđ޸đŞźđđđđ´đźđťđľđşđđđđâ°ď¸đđđ đľđ˛đşâď¸đâľď¸đśđ¤đłâ´ď¸đĽđ˘âď¸đŠđŤđŹđ§łđđ˘đŁđ¨đ°đŠđ
What I don’t want to see here or anywhere else is anything like what had happened in verses 41-50 in response to the judgment in verses 31-35… it shows how far the Isralites had gone into a wild bout of insanity and depraved content đłđłđłđłđłđłđłđłđłđłđđđđđ what if we do some humanitarian aid here in the U.S. to the least of these and someone comes to you, saying, “You have raped the Lord Jesus with your generosity!” I’d be utterly horrified and flabbergasted again, just as I was with reading this chapter (this is the first time in years that I had done this) about the wild mega-crap the evil one had inspired in all the people. Indeed, 14,700 or so perished for the attacks on Moses and Aaron for what had happened â this was literally the next day after the rebellion had started. I think a long time had passed between the events of chapters 15 and 16 here. There’s probably several episodes of God’s judgment in anything like this in many parts of the world for opposing Jesus and His Gospel work, just as Paul had mentioned to Timothy that Alexander thr coppersmith had done him much harm and that God will recompence him so that he is forgotten by God Himself (2 Timothy 4:14). Maybe that’ll work for seeing numerous people in each of these places giving thanks to God for Him making them safe? For judgment to the offenders of the Lord Jesus is mercy to everyone else. I’d rather testify of Jesus getting people saved, though. There’s a difference between being safe and getting people freely loving Jesus, for safety is often working with forgiveness to make it happen.
It’s good that Eleazar was around as a priest to curb the Lord’s wrath in future possibilities of presumption of their leadership by others, but again, I think it’s unfair that wickedness-lovers take the positions frequently. For if everyone in leadership was Christian, no matter what facet of life they’re in, the world would be a lot less unfair and ungracious. I don’t know how old Eleazar was in this chapter, but he was one of Aaron’s other sons who didn’t perish with Nadab and Abihu when they offered strange fire before God in Leviticus 10:1-2. I’ll also cover Aaron’s blossoming staff in the next chapter, and God-willing, I’ll see you soon.
In Christ,
Ron Outland
Ron And His Stories 