Stop the Grumbling

Num. 17:8

"...the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds."

Immediately following the tassels which were to be a visual to keep God and His commands ever before their eyes, Korah instituted a rebellion. Were the tassels accomplishing their purpose? Certainly not for some. These rebels refused to think that only Moses and Aaron were worthy to come before the Lord because what Moses had said would come to pass had not. To Korah it didn't matter that the people themselves were fighting Moses left and right. In several very dramatic ways, God made His choice clear. First the earth opened up and swallowed the rebellious ones with their entire households and families. After which fire from the Lord swallowed up 250 more men.

Surely this should have calmed the people, "but on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron."  It is as if these people are incensed with 'gumbling insanity,' and the sparing of their lives the day before was not enough. So God sent a plague to end their miserable, complaining lives. But quick to the rescue, Moses dispatched Aaron to save as many people as he could. "And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped." But 14,700 people died in the plague besides those who died with Korah. What horrible consequences for grumbling!

But there was still yet another miraculous incident to prove God's choice of leadership. Each tribe was to bring a staff to be taken into the tent. On each staff was inscribed the tribe's name. God would choose His leaders by making the staff bud. Why would God do this? "Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you." So, obviously, since God was not wrong or had not chosen incorrectly. Aaron's staff budded, bloomed, and produced almonds. What a sign to prove the power and the plan of God! What was the response of these grumblers? "We are undone, we are all undone. Are we all to perish?"  A good response and one that really was indicative of their spiritual condition. Perhaps they finally saw how deep their heart of rebellion was and were identifying with those who had already been killed. But that's for the next chapter.... What is my heart like? Do I indulge in seasons of  grumbling and dissatisfaction? Does my life show that God is in control of all my decisions?

Father,

Keep my heart sincere and pure before You as I seek to obey all Your words without my own qualifications or reasons. Keep me content as You teach me to wait for Your timing.

In Jesus name,
Amen