Short memories

“The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. ‘You have killed the Lord’s people,’ they said.” Numbers 16:41
In Numbers 16 we read of yet another rebellion by the Israelites against Moses and Aaron. Korah, a Kohathite of the tribe of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, of the tribe of Reuben, rebuked Moses for setting himself over the people. The truth is, Moses had not done this; God had appointed him to the position, and in fact Moses hadn’t wanted it in the first place (Ex. 4:13). As a result, God indicated whom He had chosen: Moses instructed Korah to come with his supporters (250 men) and offer incense to God, and fire came from the tabernacle and consumed them (Num. 16:35). Dathan and Abiram refused to come, and the Lord caused the ground to open up and swallow them alive (Num. 16:31-32).
Despite these miraculous occurrences, the very next day the people grumbled against Moses for the way God had destroyed them. They had been terrified that they too, would be destroyed (Num. 16:34), but when nothing came to pass, they had no qualms about grumbling again. I think it’s also quite ridiculous to blame Moses for killing the Lord’s people – he certainly wasn’t responsible for fire coming from the tabernacle and the earth swallowing people alive.
This whole incident shows us just how short people’s memories can be. We haven’t changed. How many times have we promised God we will serve Him forever, or to never do something ever again, if He will just get us out of our current mess, and then go right back to what we were doing before the trouble came? God allows trouble to come into our lives so that we will learn from it and grow. So let’s make sure that we do!