Bibledoorajar: Looking Again at Moses' Response

      I have been meditating this week on the responses of Moses when his insolent fellowmen cruelly attacked him about his management of leadership roles(specifically Aaron) within the community. According to Numbers 16, Moses first did this before he spoke: "When Moses heard this, he fell facedown"(verse 4).
     The reader is left to reflect on exactly what Moses's motivation was. Was he humiliated after having been so dishonored? Was he getting his justified anger under control since this would be the fourth recent time that God had been defied by the people? Or, was he so taken with the fear of divine displeasure and wrath falling that he prostrated himself in prayer before he spoke? Did he need the wisdom of God to know what to say even though their conduct was so grossly and obviously out of order?
      Whatever we end up thinking about Moses's behavior it is clear that he put himself in a position of humility and repentance. And apparently God gave him the words he needed to say. He essentially put the matter back into the hands of God and the men. They were given an opportunity with a challenge. They were to perform the incense service the next morning and through this service God would speak as to who His holy one was. According to Leviticus 16:13, the incense would be put on the flaming coals "before Jehovah, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy-seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not". So the challenge associated with the opportunity was the chance of death and not mercy. If the men resisted there would be no healing. Sadly this was the case.
     When we Christians examine our lives in community it is a good thing to remember Moses facedown. Would we have the Father look at our sins or look at our Savior, our true mercy-seat? The right decision means the healing can begin and life in community can continue as the Father would have it. It is an opportunity with a challenge. The right response can only come from help from above. Facedown might be a good plan.