Lost In Space - Num. 16:41

"But the very next morning the whole community began muttering again against Moses and Aaron, saying, 'You two have killed the Lord's people!'" Num. 16:41

Up until this point I have tried to give the Israelites the benefit of the doubt: They had been slaves for 400 years, they didn't know how to handle freedom; God used this time to teach them like children; we are really no better than they with the mistakes WE make... But this verse takes it over the edge for me! They KNEW God was unhappy with them, he had just sentenced them to 40 years of wandering in the wilderness; they heard God's voice condemn THEM not Moses; they saw Moses save everyone he could from God's punishment; they witnessed God's judgement on the rebellious group; and yet they still were SO blinded that they were going to complain and blame Moses and Aaron again? -- these people were truly lost! It tells me that if people are set on unbelief, it won't matter if God himself shows up! And further helps me to understand Jesus' instructions to the disciples to preach, but if the people would not listen, to shake the dust from their sandals and move on.

God, help me to empathize, not criticize.

Today's reading: Num. 14-16; Mk. 3