Oh look, another rebellion by the people. Another grumbling that Moses is doing it all wrong. Another accusation that him and Aaron have caused something terrible to the people.
In other words, another Tuesday afternoon.
It’s very tempting to look at this outcry from the people and pass it off as yet another moment when the people put God to the test, but the situation here is somewhat unique.
The day after Korah, Dathan, and Abiram are executed—along with 250 of the leading men of the congregation—the congregation puts the blame squarely on Moses’ shoulders. The people claim that Moses and Aaron have “caused the death of the Lord’s people” with the test of censers.
Since the mode of execution was unlike anything ever seen before, the only plausible reason why they would blame Moses and Aaron is under the suspicion that they “loaded” the test. Since no one is allowed to take the censers besides the priests, demanding the rebels use the censers in their test guarantees certain death.
In other words, they believe the test was not a test at all—rather, an execution. We know it wasn’t, of course, but that’s their argument.
They also phrase it as the death of the “Lord’s People.” Moses has killed the very people he is trying to lead. And when you consider that these were the chieftains of the people, it creates a power vacuum at the top that throws the entire assembly into chaos.
As much as I hate to say it, this argument has more merit than the standard “we hate manna” complaint that usually comes from the people. It’s easy to see why, given the circumstances, that this is what they’re upset about.
God doesn’t see it that way, though. He threatens to annihilate the entire congregation, and it’s only through the intervention of Aaron that the people are saved.
That’s right…the intervention of Aaron.
This is another example of how this story is unique from the others. Whereas Moses is the one to react, he calls on Aaron to physically intervene by grabbing his censer (which he is authorized to own) and run into the assembly. He does, and the plague that is sent by God to punish the people ceases. “Only” 14,700 people are killed.
It’s here we start to notice the turnaround in Aaron’s life. So far in this story, we’ve seen him build a golden calf (Exodus 32) and challenge Moses’ authority (Numbers 12).
But now we see him in a Moses-like role—as a mediator. Just like David in 2 Samuel 24, he stands “between the living and the dead” to oppose the plague and offer a sacrifice to assuage God’s wrath. That takes guts, and is a step beyond his standard High Priestly duties.
The guy’s been through a lot; it wasn’t that far in the past that he watched his own sons die at the hand of God. In this instance though, understanding the wrath of God, he acted quickly to protect more from certain death. He may not get it right all the time, but at least he’s growing in his obedience and devotion to the name of God.