In Numbers 16, immediately following the incident of the spies bringing the bad report and the people saying “nevermind! We’ll go into the land! We trust God now,” only after hearing that God was going to kill them in the wilderness for their lack of faith, we find that Korah - a leader from among the tribe of Reuben, attempts an insurrection against Moses. In response, God swallows them all up in a pit that opens under their tents: taking them down, alive.
Right after this, the people rise up, defending Korah’s ideals. God wants (again) to kill them all, so he sends a plague among the people for their grumbling against him.
All said, 14,700 people died of plague and 253 died in the pit incident and fire that followed. God will not be made subject to anyone and he demands obedience. We see the, perhaps more succinct bottom line in Joshua 5, when the army meets an angel. Upon asking who’s side the angel fought for, the angel responds by saying he fights for God and to get behind him if you’re smart.
Links:
children of Israel The Wilderness Obedience
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