Numbers 16:45 “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces. Twice in as many days God was going to eliminate the Israelites for rising up against Moses and questioning his authority from God. Yet each time Moses interceded for the people. Sometimes he begged God to be merciful because he didn’t want the nations to think that God couldn’t bring His people to the land He had promised, thereby allowing the nations to think God was weak. Sometimes he just acted on behalf of all the people who weren’t involved in the uprising. But, it’s interesting to me that even in the face of harsh criticism and danger, Moses was compassionate and forgiving. Only once did he become angry, and that was after several men blamed him as the reason why they were condemned to wander in the desert until all the men over 20 had died (clearly they forgot that it was their fault). Honestly, he probably felt a little of what God might feel when we blame Him for things that are obviously our fault. Anyway, twice Moses stood between God and the people of Israel. The first time the men who sided with Korah were consumed by the earth. The second time 14,700 were consumed by plague before Aaron could take the censor of the Lord and stand in the path of death. There are times when I am every bit as stubborn and stupid and ridiculous as the people of Israel were in this passage. I blame God for things that I did. I refuse to forgive other people and forget to repent of the disobedience I do. And yet, by the grace of God and the blood of Yeshua, I am not completely destroyed. My guilt is removed so God will not strike me down. I still must face the consequences of my actions though, especially since that’s part of how things work (that cause/effect thing). Do I learn from these times? Or do I turn around and blame other people? Do I blame God? Sometimes, yes. To all three.