| Numbers 26:10 – “The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign..” |
I never quite understood the severity of the Lord’s wrath, much less the great love that the Lord has for us, until I read the Old Testament in its entirety.
Reading three chapters a day covers the entire Bible in just one year. I also have “Alexa” read the Bible to me. Every time I walk into the room, I tell her to ‘resume reading. I enjoy listening and the Scriptures say we have faith by hearing the Word.
While reading the Bible, I find some stories of the fierce wrath of God upon the disobedient. I’ve thought many times, “I do not want God to be angry with me!”
In this story, the Israelites spent years in the wilderness rebelling against the Lord, but now they have a renewed obedience. God is preparing them to take over the promised land. He had them count all who were able to go to war, ages 20+. In taking this census, they must have been reminded of how much God hates insurrection against Him. As to the rebellious men, God split the ground apart and the earth swallowed them. He sent a fire that consumed 250 leaders of Israel who also rejected the Lord. The people who saw this happen were terrified! Can you imagine such a ‘Come to Jesus’ day? God says, “for them that honor Me, I will honor, and they that despise me will be disdained.”
After considering God’s wrath, I am amazed at how He continuously forgives His children and shows compassion. God hates sin, yet clearly loves His children!
God, full of both justice and mercy, loves us so much that He provided an avenue of redemption for each one of us. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.”
We are a sinful people, yet God “is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
The blood of Jesus protects us from the rage of God, because God “did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We are a very blessed people because of Amazing Grace.
– Vicki Rance
