Numbers 15:22-20:29

This passage contains numerous examples of disobedience, distrust of the Lord, grumbling, complaining, and outright rejection and rebellion against God, His promises, and His appointed priests and leaders. Time and again, individuals or groups forget God's laws and His faithfulness and power, doubting and questioning Him. There is the sabbath-breaker, who collects wood on the sabbath and is stoned by the community at God's direction. There are those among the Levites who question why the sons of Aaron are singled out as priests, rather than the Levites. For this, Korah, Dathan, Abiram and more than 200 others pay with their lives. Indeed, Dathan and Abiram and their families are swallowed up by the earth in front of the Israelites in a scene that spreads horror and panic throughout the community. 

The Lord reinforces His choice of Aaron and his sons and their ancestral house as set apart for the priesthood. God explains "I give you the priesthood as a gift." Indeed, the priesthood is a gift to Catholics as well. There is no escaping that the priesthood and priests are a source of some controversy today as well. Some bad actors have spread horror by their actions, although the vast majority are surely committed and good (although, like the rest of us, imperfect). But they are our counselors, mediators, examples--indispensable gifts to us. 

This section ends with the powerful story of the Israelites--grumbling again, complaining that Moses and Aaron and God have led them out of Egypt only to perish. At the Lord's direction, Moses, in front of the whole assembly at Meribah, uses his staff to strike a rock, from which water springs--enough water to slake the thirst of the Israelites and their livestock. Significantly, Moses must strike the rock twice, and this seems to denote some lack of faith in God's power on the part of Moses and Aaron.  The Lord chastises them, telling them that their lack of faithfulness will be punished, and that they will not personally lead the people into the promised land.  I must confess that I am puzzled by this scene, as I do not grasp how the conduct of Moses is unfaithful. But God's ways are mysterious, I suppose. At this point, at least, there is no complaining by Moses and Aaron about their punishment. Some time later, Aaron dies, and the whole community mourns him for 30 days.