The closing paragraph of our chapter illustrates, in a most striking manner, the incorrigible evil of the natural heart. One might fondly hope that after the impressive scenes enacted in the presence of the congregation, deep and permanent lessons would be learnt. Having seen the earth open her mouth, having heard the heart-rending cry of the rebels as they descended into the pit, having seen the fire of the Lord coming forth and consuming, as in a moment, two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation—having witnessed such tokens of the divine judgment—such a display of divine power and majesty, one might suppose that the people would henceforth walk softly and humbly, and that the accents of discontent and rebellion would no more be heard in their tents. Alas! alas! man is not to be so taught. The flesh is utterly incurable. This truth is taught in every section and on every page of the volume of God. It is illustrated in the closing lines of Numbers xvi.—“But on the morrow.” Think of that! It was not in a year, or a month, or even a week after the appalling scenes on which we have been dwelling, “but on the morrow, _all the congregation_ [no longer a few daring spirits merely] murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, ‘Ye have killed the people of the Lord.’ And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation; and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared. And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ‘Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment.’” (Ver. 41-45.) Here is another opportunity for Moses. The whole congregation is again threatened with immediate destruction. All seems hopeless. The divine long-suffering seems at an end, and the sword of judgment is about to fall on the whole assembly. And now it appears that in that very priesthood which the rebels had despised lies the only hope for the people; and that the very men whom they had charged with killing the Lord’s people, were God’s instruments in saving their lives.—“And Moses and Anion fell upon their faces. And Moses said unto Aaron, ‘Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun.’ And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.” (Ver. 46-48.)