I had no expectations that the Bible was going to be sunshine and lollipops when I started this little venture, and I was already grossed out by Exodus. I was not however, ready for Numbers.
Numbers of course is a proper nickname for the fourth book of Moses. It's the book where the people of Israel were counted. So plenty of census taking and lots of numbers concerning various tribes and animals. What got to me was not the mundane reading of all of god's accounting of his chosen people, but some oddly specific killings.
Now I am already aware of all the death's God has on his hands up to this point, and of course I am aware of all the crimes that the lord God has punishable by death, which means people were put to death. I'm not so concerned about those because, technically they were against God and well, God wasn't the super loving God who gave his only son to us yet. However two deaths specifically caught my eye and seriously raised some questions for me.
The first is the death of Korrah. Korrah was the first man to oppose Moses. The reason Korrah's death bothers me is because I am like him in a way. He's the guy who asked, why the heck is God only giving orders to Moses and Aaron, are we not all his chosen people? He's the first one to really challenge Moses authority on God. And how did God prove to Korrah Moses was the lead boss? He killed Korrah and his family by opening up the earth and burying them alive. God didn't mess around in those days, I'll give him that much, but the second specific death raises alarms even to a religious man such as myself.
God has Aaron executed. Aaron was the original head priest; Aaron was the spokesperson for Moses in Egypt; Aaron was Moses's number two; Aaron was Moses's brother in-law, and he was killed. The circumstances around his death are even more alarming. Aaron was killed because the people of Israel complained for water again. It should be common sense that people need water to survive, however God got really annoyed to the point it of "Oh come on, I did all this crap for you already, you should all just worship without question, fine have water." Aaron was executed because he didn't stop the people from complaining about water. I won't type it all here but it is Numbers Chapter 20 lines 23-29. Aaron did not question God; Aaron was not to blame for the lack of water; Aaron was not even the true spiritual leader on whom something like a rebellion would fall upon. He was killed because God was angry at people. I have to ask: or was he? I guess he was another example like Korrah, since people really loved him. It is just so convenient that the people who opposed Moses are dead, and his biggest threat to power is now dead. I am a man of God, I have faith in the bible, but that does not mean I will skip something this blatantly suspicious.
I do however think that this all ties in to the over arching theme of God's growth. Here we have God so very focused on one group of people, in so that his choices are all in an attempt to make his "children" grow up and fend for themselves. He's very parental with many of his decisions. He finally takes account of everyone. His punishments or rewards are very "did you do what I want" specific. We even have God starting to get fed up with his children's complaints and grievances just like a real first time parent would.
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