June 7th - Reflection

Numbers 16:41-50 (NRSV)
The high priest Aaron makes atonement
On the next day, however, the whole congregation of the Israelites rebelled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, "You have killed the people of the Lord." And when the congregation had assembled against them, Moses and Aaron turned toward the tent of meeting; the cloud had covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Get away from this congregation, so that I may consume them in a moment." And they fell on their faces. Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer, put fire on it from 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." So Aaron took it as Moses had ordered, and ran into the middle of the assembly, where the plague had already begun among the people. He put on the incense, and made atonement for the people. He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stopped. Those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the affair of Korah. When the plague was stopped, Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

Reflection
The people were testing God's patience. People upset with their leader Moses and upset with the way things are going. People no longer sure of the leadership of Moses and Aaron. People no longer sure of the direction. Death occurs and diseases occurs. Troubles and pain and agony with the people.

We beg God for life. Life in our sinfulness, we fall to our knees and confess and repent of our sin. Much more than words. Repentance is a gut feeling of remorse and sadness for what we have done. God has every right to return death to us for our sin.

But, just as Aaron ran with the incense and fire offering into the midst of the people to cover that sin, we have a loving God that sent Jesus in the midst of the people to cover our sin. Jesus came just as Aaron came to stand between the living and the dead.

As Jesus stands in the midst of the congregation the plague is stopped. We are redeemed. We have new life. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thanks for the cover. Thanks for hearing me cry out to you. Thanks for life! --- Amen