Slighted Mercy.

The Hebrews had an opportunity to reflect upon the scene they had witnessed in the visitation of God's wrath upon the most prominent ones in this great rebellion. The goodness and mercy of God was displayed in not completely exterminating this ungrateful people when his wrath was kindled against the most responsible ones. God gave the congregation who had permitted themselves to be deceived space for repentance. The fact that the Lord, their invisible leader, showed so much longsuffering and mercy in this instance, is distinctly recorded as evidence of his willingness to forgive the most grievous offenders, when they should have a sense of their sin and return unto the Lord with repentance and humiliation. The congregation had been arrested in their presumptuous course by the display of the Lord's vengeance; but they were not convinced that they were great sinners against the Lord, deserving his wrath for their rebellious course.T24 29.1

It is hardly possible for men to offer a greater insult to God than to despise and reject the instrumentalities he has appointed to lead them. They had not only done this, but purposed to put both Moses and Aaron to death. These men fled from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, through fear of destruction; but their rebellion was not cured. They were not in grief and despair because of their guilt. They felt not the effect of an awakened, convicted conscience because they had abused their most precious privileges, and sinned against light and knowledge. We may here learn precious lessons of the longsuffering of Jesus, the angel who went before the Hebrews in the wilderness.T24 30.1

Their invisible Leader would save them from a disgraceful destruction. Forgiveness is lingering for them. It is possible for them to find pardon if they will even now repent. The vengeance of God has now come near to them and appealed to them to repent. A special, irresistible interference from Heaven has arrested their presumptuous rebellion. Now if they respond to the interposition of God's providence they may be saved.T24 30.2

The repentance and humiliation of the congregation of Israel is required to be proportionate to their transgression. The signal power of God revealed has placed them beyond uncertainty. They may have a knowledge of the true position and holy calling of Moses and Aaron if they will accept ft. But the neglect of the Hebrews to regard the evidences God had given them was fatal to them. They did not realize the importance of immediate action on their part to seek pardon of God for their grievous sins.T24 31.1

That night of probation to the Hebrews was not passed by them in confessing and repenting of their sins, but in devising some way to resist the evidences which showed them to be the greatest of sinners. They still held their jealous hatred of the men of God's appointment. They strengthened themselves in their mad course of resisting the authority of Moses and Aaron. Satan was at hand to pervert the judgment and lead them blindfolded to destruction. Their minds had been most thoroughly poisoned with disaffection, and they had the matter fixed beyond a question in their minds that Moses and Aaron were wicked men, and that they were responsible for the death of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, whom they thought would have been the saviours of the Hebrews by bringing in a better order of things, where praise would take the place of reproof, and peace the place of anxiety and conflict.T24 31.2

The day before all Israel had fled in alarm at the cry of the doomed sinners who went down into the pit, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also.”T24 32.1

“But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord.” In their indignation they were prepared to lay violent hands upon the men of God's appointment, whom they believed had done a great wrong in killing those who were good and holy.T24 32.2

The Lord's presence was manifested in his glory over the tabernacle, and rebellious Israel was arrested in their mad, presumptuous course. The voice of the Lord from his terrible glory speaks to Moses and Aaron in the same words which they were the day before commanded to address to the congregation of Israel, “Get you up from among this congregation that I may consume them as in a moment.”T24 32.3

Here we find a striking exhibition of the blindness that will compass human minds that turn from light and evidence. Here we see the strength of settled rebellion. Here we see how difficult is rebellion to be overcome. Surely, the Hebrews had the most convincing evidence in the destruction of the men who had deceived them. But they still stood forth boldly and defiantly, and accused Moses and Aaron of killing good and holy men. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”T24 32.4

Moses did not feel the guilt of sin, and did not hasten away at the word of the Lord and leave the congregation to perish, as the Hebrews fled from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram the day before. Moses lingered; for he could not consent to give up all that vast multitude to perish, although he knew that they deserved the vengeance of God, for their persistent rebellion.T24 33.1

He prostrated himself before God, because the people felt no necessity for humiliation. He mediates for the people, because they feel no need of interceding in their own behalf. Moses here typifies Christ. In this critical crisis, Moses manifested the true shepherd's interest for the flock of his care. He pleads that the wrath of an offended God may not destroy utterly the people of his choice. He holds back by his intercession the arm of vengeance, that a full end shall not be made of disobedient, rebellious Israel. He directed Aaron what course to pursue in that terrible crisis when the wrath of God had gone forth, and the plague had begun. Aaron stood with his censer waving it before the Lord while the intercessions of Moses ascended with the smoke of the incense. Moses dared not cease his entreaties. He took hold of the strength of the angel as did Jacob in his wrestling, and like Jacob he prevailed. Aaron was standing between the living and the dead, when the gracious answer came, I have heard thy prayer, I will not consume utterly. The very men whom the congregation despised and would have put to death, are the ones to plead in their behalf that the avenging sword of God might be sheathed and sinful Israel spared.T24 33.2