Numbers 16:41-50
41 On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the LORD.” 42 Now it happened, when the congregation had gathered against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tabernacle of meeting; and suddenly the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. 43 Then Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of meeting.
44 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces.
46 So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun.” 47 Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped. 49 Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the Korah incident. 50 So Aaron returned to Moses at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, for the plague had stopped.
44 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces.
46 So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun.” 47 Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped. 49 Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the Korah incident. 50 So Aaron returned to Moses at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, for the plague had stopped.
The day after the children of Israel rebelled and suffered the consequences, they blamed the leaders for killing the people whom God had executed judgement upon. As the mob approached Moses and Aaron, the LORD covered the tabernacle with the cloud of His presence. They saw God’s glory as He told Moses and Aaron to stand clear of the congregation about to be consumed by plague. They fell prostrate on the ground as they heard this, and immediately offered incense as with prayer in Revelation 8:3-4. Moses stood to intercede with atonement before they were all consumed; he stood between the dead and the living. Fourteen thousand and seven hundred died in that plague by that time he interceded. Then Aaron returned to the tabernacle to do his duty there. We see how our sin demands judgement, but also how atonement can save us. Jesus Christ is the one who is our eternal High Priest who alone can intercede forever for us. We are saved from sin’s just due by Him alone.
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