Numbers 16:36-50
It is not only "against Moses and against Aaron", nor yet "against the LORD" (vv. 3, 11), that Korah and his men have sinned. It is also "against their own souls" (v. 38). Thus it is with all unbelievers: they will be for ever their own victims. A sudden punishment has just come upon the ringleaders, and God sees to it that this should not be forgotten; it is as it were displayed upon the altar (v. 38). This notwithstanding, on the following day the entire nation gathers together and demonstrates against its two leaders. At the outset there had been one man at the head: Korah, with Dathan and Abiram. Then two hundred and fifty men joined them. Now it is the whole congregation that rises up (v. 41). How fickle the human heart is! We have already seen that ten spies are enough to side-track all the people (Numbers 13). That is why Galatians 6:7 gives us this warning: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap".
The plague is about to begin. As in v. 4 Moses falls on his face with Aaron. Afterwards the latter does not lose a moment. He who has been envied, insulted, unjustly accused, makes atonement for the people with the one acceptable censer. Beautiful figure of Christ, once again, as the supreme Intercessor!