So the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’” (Numbers 16:23-24)
In response to Moses intercession, God instructed the people to separate themselves from the rebels. In short, God gave everyone a chance to separate themselves from evil doers and demonstrate their loyalty to Him. This is akin to what happened just before the destruction of those who participated in the worship of the Golden Calf incident. As you may recall, Moses called for those who were on the LORD’s side and the tribe of Levi responded by separating themselves from the rest of the congregation. The same opportunity was given to Lot and his family before the destruction of the five cities of the plain. Those who departed were spared and those who ignored the warning were destroyed with the wicked.
The point is, before the destruction comes, God gives everyone an opportunity to flee wickedness and live. The Almighty doesn’t wish for the righteous and the guiltless to perish with the wicked and the guilty. Nevertheless, it is incumbent upon them to heed the warning that He sends or, unfortunately, they will perish with those who are wicked. Another example of this is found in the New Testament when Messiah warned the inhabitants of Jerusalem about its impending destruction. He predicted that Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies, indicating that its’ desolation was near. He said, “Let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance” (Luke 21:20-22).
It is impossible for God to allow wickedness to go unpunished and so, when that time comes, it is extremely important that His people are paying attention to what He is doing and saying. When the warnings are being issued, it is the responsibility of the hearers to act upon what they hear. In this day and time, we all know that wickedness abounds and yet, presently, grace abounds as well. But there is coming a time when God will take action against all rebels and it will be very important for us to know when we must separate ourselves from those marked for destruction lest we be carried away in that destruction. In short, let’s clean out our spiritual ears and clean up our lives for the day of vengeance is a certainty. But take heart — our Father knows how to deliver His own and redeem them from all adversity.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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