TUESDAY, JANUARY 31
NUMBERS 16:23-35
GENESIS 18:25

"Shall not the Judge of
all the earth do right?"

REBELLIOUS LEADERS ARE JUDGED

God vindicated Moses and Aaron by opening the earth to swallow Korah, Dathan and Abiram, along with their households. The text does not mention any shaking of the ground as might be expected in an earthquake. The uniqueness of the event lies in the unusual condition where the ground opened up and swallowed the people. Moreover, its timing also proved its distinctiveness because hardly before Moses had finished his speech, everything happened suddenly. The LORD brought fire to consume the 250 supporters of the rebels and slayed them all. When many Israelites complained about this harsh treatment, God sent a plague throughout the camp which took the lives of 14,700 of these complainers (Num 16:23-35, 41-50). "They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked" (Ps 106:16-18).

Further, to show Aaron’s approved position, God caused Aaron’s rod (out of the twelve rods) to bud and blossom (Num 17:1-11). God also instructed Moses to keep Aaron’s budded rod in the tabernacle as a constant reminder and evidence that God had divinely chosen Aaron as the religious leader of Israel (Heb 9:4).

The God of Israel is a God of mercy, but He is a God of justice, too. When men refuse to submit to His supremacy and control, which are for their good, they will have to face the wrath of God. They chose to dishonour God when they rejected His authority over them. God will not lower His standard of justice. He is the Judge of all the earth and He does that which is right. Be warned lest you be judged too!

THOUGHT: Have I been rebellious against God?
PRAYER: "O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed" (Ps 6:1-2).