In Numbers 16, two rebellions occurred back-to-back, one day after another. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram led the first, and it is recorded in Numbers 16:1-35. Their rebellion ended with God causing the earth to swallow them and all their belongings whole, and the 250 men with them were consumed with fire from the Lord. The following day, the Israelites returned to Moses and Aaron, grumbling and accusing them of fault for the previous day’s deaths. The mob kept coming toward Moses and Aaron until God’s glory appeared, and He began executing the people with a plague of immediate death.
The mob being killed was hostile toward Moses, Aaron, and God, yet without hesitation, Moses told Aaron to go and quickly make atonement for them (Num.16:46). God was just in His judgment; the mob deserved to die. Moses and Aaron showed compassion, doing what they could to deliver the people from that judgment. Romans 5:8-10 says that God expressed that same love for the world through Jesus, who gave Himself for us while we were still hostile toward Him. In this moment, Moses and Aaron are shadows cast by God the Father and God the Son.
According to 1 Corinthians 11:1, all are to imitate Christ. No one can do that without trying to save people from the judgment by carrying the gospel to them. Jesus died for every person while they were still His enemies; Christians must bring that message to those seeking salvation so they can be made His brethren before He returns. Even when people gather against you, speak God’s word for their souls’ good because they will meet Him in judgment one day.
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