So Aaron took it (censer) as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped. Numbers 16:47-48 ESV
Jealousy was at the core of the insurrection against Moses and Aaron – and ultimately, God Himself (vs. 11). Korah, Dathan, and Abiram sought to displace the leaders God had appointed. Ultimately, the ground opened up and swallowed them and their families. Then the Lord sent a plague among the people to destroy those who had sinned against Him.
Moses instructed Aaron to take his censer and “put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the Lord; the plague has begun” (vs46). So Aaron took the censer and ran into the midst of the people. He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was stopped.
Aaron’s actions are a beautiful foreshadowing of Christ’s work on the cross. Jesus atoned for our sins and closed the divide by standing between us and a holy God. “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).
The condemnation you and I deserve was put upon Jesus, our mediator and the ransom for our sins. Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior? He is the difference between eternal condemnation and eternity with God.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your saving grace. Thank you for the cross where you died for my sinfulness. Thank you for standing in the gap for me. Amen.
Thought: “Outside of the cross of Jesus Christ, there is no hope in this world. That cross and resurrection at the core of the Gospel is the only hope for humanity.” – Ravi Zaccharias