Close to God, Heart for People's Salvation

Numbers 16:43–47 (ESV) And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces. 46 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the LORD; the plague has begun.” 47 So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people.

In this strange moment we see something revealed through Moses to teach us about Jesus. Incredibly, after the Earth opens and swallows the rebels from the beginning of this chapter, the people of Israel have the audacity to complain against Moses for "killing" the Lord's people. How unreal. 

The Lord comes out in anger, ready to destroy the people now for the second time in the same chapter. The first time, Moses intervenes and spares the people. This time, yet again, Moses intervenes, sending Aaron with incense to make atonement for the people. 

I don't know about you, but if I was Moses, I'd be really tempted to let God go through with wiping out the people. After all, he has been attacked, he has been derided... and when God stands up for Moses, the people turn on Moses! YET, instead of retaliation, Moses models a heart for the people of God once more. 

It teaches us an important lesson about those who would stand and lead before the people of God. It would seem that to be close to God, as Moses was, means you have a heart for the salvation of people from the wrath of God. 

I know, I know. It doesn't seem to make sense. Why does Moses have to intervene to save them from God? Why does God not simply look the other way? Because God cannot look the other way when it comes to sin. His holiness demands justice. Sin must be wiped out. God is God and utterly holy in all ways. Therefore, people who rebel against God do so at their own detriment. Unrighteous people are as good as dead before Him.

But Moses stands before God on behalf of the people and knows atonement can be made. His heart goes out to people while at the same time respecting the holiness of God. A Godly leader must model both in his ministry. He must have total respect for the name and renown of God. He must also have a deep and abiding heart of mercy for people who are often so blinded by sin they do not know any better. 

Moses presents us with a picture of a Divine intercessor. Jesus Christ will be our true and better Moses who stems the tide of God's wrath against us while making atonement for the sins that defile us. Jesus, in having absolute respect for the name of God and total love for people brings mercy and justice together at the cross. He accomplishes the work by which God is both just and justifier of the ungodly. 

We have a better Moses. He has made atonement in His blood. May we never lose sight of both the righteousness and holiness of God as well as His just wrath against sin. Only in Christ do we stand no longer condemned by grace. 

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