ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Tu’apuleulu Sune 24, 2021

Pea ‘i he fanongo ki ai ‘e Mōsese´, na‘a ne tō fo‘ohifo

When Moses heard it, he fell on his face 

Nomipa 16 (Numbers 16)

 

* G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible*

Here begins the story of perhaps the strangest and most fully organized opposition that Moses had to encounter. Two elements were at work. The first was ambition and the second was dissatisfaction.

The plea of the elders was for equal rights and consequent independence of action. The reply of Moses was a reassertion that his authority was divinely ordained. Sudden and terrible discipline fell upon the people. The whole incident is a warning for all time and for all men against any attempt on the ground of popular right to violate the crown rights of Jehovah.

The last movement in the story is a startling revelation of the blindness of the people and of how far the dissatisfaction had spread. The whole congregation charged that the death of those who had been punished rested on Moses. Again, the divine voice threatened the extermination of the people, and immediately a fierce and swift plague afflicted them. Directly it commenced, however, at the instigation of Moses, Aaron, the appointed priest, whose right it was to swing the censer, filled it with fire and sprinkling the incense thereupon passed into the midst of the afflicted people. The mediation prevailed, the plague was stayed, and by that fact and with renewed emphasis, the right of Aaron as priest and the right of Moses as leader were indicated.

 

*Commentary: David Guzik – Study Guide to Numbers*

V. 4-5

Pea ‘i he fanongo ki ai ‘e Mōsese na‘a ne tō fo‘ohifo: pea ne lea kia Kola mo ‘ene kau kātoa, ‘o pehē, ‘E fakae‘a ‘e Sihova ‘apongipongi pe ko hai ‘oku ‘o‘ona, mo ia ‘oku tāpuhā pea ngofua ke ofi kiate ia: pea ko ia ‘oku ne fili ki ai ‘e ngofua ke ofi kiate ia.

V. 4-5

When Moses heard it, he fell on his face, and he said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the Lord will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him.

When Moses heard it, he fell on his face:

Moses first prayed. Being a humble man, he probably asked God if his critics were right or had something to teach him. He probably asked God what should be done in the situation. He certainly asked God to spare the nation and he asked God to not allow these divisive men to bring permanent harm to the people of God.

And he spoke to Korah and all his company:

We don't know how long Moses prayed, but after prayer he had a sense of God's direction for this crisis. He issued a challenge whereby Korah and his followers would come before the LORD, and Moses and Aaron would also come, so that the LORD would choose His leaders.

You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!

This shows that Moses did not doubt the outcome of the test. He knew that God would prove him right and Korah wrong. Therefore, Moses was unafraid to put it to the test.

Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel?:

Moses knew that the rebellion of Korah was rooted in ingratitude. They were not thankful for the wonderful ministry God gave them to do. He rebuked the pride and self-seeking that prompted their challenge.

Even if Korah was right, this was the wrong way to approach the problem. A power play like this was the wrong way to remove a leader like Moses. The methods of Korah (his use of accusation, intimidation, the gathering of a rival following) revealed his rebellious, divisive heart.