Back to matters of the heart: chapter 9, the Israelites are getting ready to celebrate Passover and a group come to Moses because they are unclean for touching a dead body. They really want to celebrate Passover though. I think that is the key. A lot of times we focus on the bad things in a negative way. For instance later in chapter 15:32ff a man is stoned to death for deliberately breaking the Sabbath. We might say, God is so harsh and mean. All this guy was doing was gathering sticks on the Sabbath. All this guy was doing was deliberately being defiant to God and not trusting that God would take care of his needs. Where is God's mercy? It's there. God is just. Back to matters of the heart. In chapter 9, God allows those who are unclean to participate in the Passover. Mercy and grace. Why here and not in 15 or in 12 or in 11 or in 16? Mercy is still there in all these other stories, but it depends on the heart of the matter, on the heart of the people. These people wanted to worship God, not just go through the motions. God recognized that and made a way for them.
In the other passages: 11 - The Israelites grumble and whine against God because they have no meat. Nevermind that God is providing for them daily with manna. Their hearts are hardened against him like Pharaoh.
Chapter 12 - Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses. Pride steps in and they wonder, why aren't we getting the same glory? I mean, we're the "great" Moses' siblings and we didn't marry a Cushite. Miriam gets a skin disease and Moses pleads for her, God shows mercy. Now that's a humbling experience.
Chapter 13-14 - They send out the spies and all but Caleb and Joshua step back in fear. Oh, the land is GREAT! But the people, they're scary. I don't know if God will provide. We shouldn't go. (I mean he only sent 10 plagues and brought us out of Egypt, and gives us food every day and water...) Moses pleads for the people again and God shows mercy. Instead of wiping out the Israelites to make Moses a great nation, he allows them to wonder in the desert for 40 years with only Caleb and Joshua to enter the Promised Land. Back to matters of the heart. The LORD says that Caleb (v24) "has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly" because of that, of Caleb's faith and heart, he and his descendants will enter the Promised Land.
Chapter 15 - There is mercy for unintentional sins, but intentional sins cause one to be cut off. It's interesting to note that these celebrations: Passover, offerings, and such now include the "foreigner living among you." Again if these people come to God with a heart that is seeking after Him, he honors that because that is what God desires.
Chapter 16 - Korah, Dathan and Abiram. It's a big one, the earth swallows them up with their whole families. "How could you do that God?" Again these people come to God actively, willingly defiant, questioning everything God has said and done, thinking they know better. Why their families? I would say to prevent further uprisings like this in the future. Besides that God already said that sin is passed down from generation to generation. If you don't believe that's true, look around, hate and love are taught very early. Think, when did you start to think and act like your parents? I've seen my nieces do it from the time they were but a few months old. We know what we're taught and what we are surrounded by day after day.
And so on...
Do I have all the answers. Absolutely not. This I believe: God is good, God is faithful, God is loving and God is just. I don't know why he was so harsh to some and not to others, but I trust that it was for reasons I cannot know or understand and I trust that God is good. He has been good to me and continually faithful despite my defiance at times. I recognize my defiance and come crawling back, so perhaps that is why God deals with me less harshly. I don't know. I'm grateful that he is merciful and I pray that he would continue to help my unbelief.
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