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come very near； and appealed to them to repent。 A special； irresistible
interference from heaven had arrested their rebellion。 Now； if they would
respond to the interposition of God's providence； they might be saved。 But
while they fled from the judgments； through fear of destruction； their
rebellion was not cured。 They returned to their tents that night terrified；
but not repentant。
They had been flattered by korah and his company until they really believed
themselves to be very good people； and that they had been wronged and abused
by Moses。 Should they admit that Korah and his company were wrong； and Moses
right； then they would be compelled to receive as the word of God the
sentence that they must die in the wilderness。 They were not willing to
submit to this； and they tried to believe that Moses had deceived them。 They
had fondly cherished the hope that a new order of things was about to be
established； in which praise would be substituted for reproof； and ease for
anxiety and conflict。
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The men who had perished had spoken flattering words and had professed great
interest and love for them； and the people concluded that Korah and his
companions must have been good men； and that Moses had by some means been
the cause of their destruction。
It is hardly possible for men to offer greater insult to God than to despise
and reject the instrumentalities He would use for their salvation。 The
Israelites had not only done this； but had purposed to put both Moses and
Aaron to death。 Yet they did not realize the necessity of seeking pardon of
God for their grievous sin。 That night of probation was not passed in
repentance and confession； but in devising some way to resist the evidences
which showed them to be the greatest of sinners。 They still cherished hatred
of the men of God's appointment； and braced themselves to resist their
authority。 Satan was at hand to pervert their judgment and lead them
blindfold to destruction。
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。〃 〃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。〃 And
they were about to proceed to violence against their faithful；
self…sacrificing leaders。
A manifestation of the divine glory was seen in the cloud above the
tabernacle； and a voice from the cloud spoke to Moses and Aaron； 〃Get you up
from among this congregation； that I may consume them as in a moment。〃
The guilt of sin did not rest upon Moses； and hence he did not fear and did
not hasten away and leave the congregation to perish。 Moses lingered； in
this fearful crisis manifesting the true shepherd's interest for the flock
of his care。 He pleaded that the wrath of God might not utterly destroy the
people of His choice。 By his intercession he stayed the arm of vengeance；
that a full end might not be made of disobedient； rebellious Israel。
But the minister of wrath had gone forth； the plague was doing its work of
death。 By his brother's direction； Aaron took a censer and hastened into the
midst of the congregation to 〃make an atonement for them。〃 〃And he stood
between the dead and the living。〃 As the smoke of the incense ascended； the
prayers of Moses in the tabernacle went up to God； and the plague was
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stayed； but not until fourteen thousand of Israel lay dead； an evidence of
the guilt of murmuring and rebellion。
But further evidence was given that the priesthood had been established in
the family of Aaron。 By divine direction each tribe prepared a rod and wrote
upon it the name of the tribe。 The name of Aaron was upon that of Levi。 The
rods were laid up in the tabernacle； 〃before the testimony。〃 The blossoming
of any rod was to be a token that the Lord had chosen that tribe for the
priesthood。 On the morrow； 〃behold； the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi
was budded； and brought forth buds； and bloomed blossoms； and yielded
almonds。〃 It was shown to the people； and afterward laid up in the
tabernacle as a witness to succeeding generations。 This miracle effectually
settled the question of the priesthood。
It was now fully established that Moses and Aaron had spoken by divine
authority； and the people were compelled to believe the unwelcome truth that
they were to die in the wilderness。 〃Behold；〃 they exclaimed； 〃we die； we
perish； we all perish。〃 They confessed that they had sinned in rebelling
against their leaders； and that Korah and his company had suffered from the
just judgment of God。
In the rebellion of Korah is seen the working out； upon a narrower stage； of
the same spirit that led to the rebellion of Satan in heaven。 It was pride
and ambition that prompted Lucifer to complain of the government of God； and
to seek the overthrow of the order which had been established in heaven。
Since his fall it has been his object to infuse the same spirit of envy and
discontent； the same ambition for position and honor； into the minds of men。
He thus worked upon the minds of Korah； Dathan； and Abiram； to arouse the
desire for self…exaltation and excite envy； distrust； and rebellion。 Satan
caused them to reject God as their leader； by rejecting the men of God's
appointment。 Yet while in their murmuring against Moses and Aaron they
blasphemed God； they were so deluded as to think themselves righteous； and
to regard those who had faithfully reproved their sins as actuated by Satan。
Do not the same evils still exist that lay at the foundation of Korah's
ruin？ Pride and ambition are widespread； and when these are cherished； they
open the door to envy； and a striving for supremacy； the soul is alienated
from God； and unconsciously
404
drawn into the ranks of Satan。 Like Korah and his companions； many； even of
the professed followers of Christ； are thinking； planning； and working so
eagerly for self…exaltation that in order to gain the sympathy and support
of the people they are ready to pervert the truth； falsifying and
misrepresenting the Lord's servants； and even charging them with the base
and selfish motives that inspire their own hearts。 By persistently
reiterating falsehood； and that against all evidence； they at last come to
believe it to be truth。 While endeavoring to destroy the confidence of the
people in the men of God's appointment； they really believe that they are
engaged in a good work； verily doing God service。
The Hebrews were not willing to submit to the directions and restrictions of
the Lord。 They were restless under restraint； and unwilling to receive
reproof。 This was the secret of their murmuring against Moses。 Had they been
left free to do as they pleased； there would have been fewer complaints
against their leader。 All through the history of the church God's servants
have had the same spirit to meet。
It is by sinful indulgence that men give Satan access to their minds； and
they go from one stage of wickedness to another。 The rejection of light
darkens the mind and hardens the heart； so that it is ea