Numbers 16:22 - They fell on their faces, and said, “God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?”
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Numbers 16:22" mean?
This verse, Numbers 16:22, is a powerful plea from Moses and Aaron to God in the face of rebellion. Let's break it down:
"They fell on their faces...": This is a common posture of humility, submission, and desperate supplication before God. It shows they were deeply affected by the situation and genuinely concerned about God's reaction.
"...and said, “God, the God of the spirits of all flesh...": This part of the prayer is significant for a couple of reasons:
"God": They are addressing God directly.
"the God of the spirits of all flesh": This phrase emphasizes God's intimate knowledge and control over every individual. It suggests that God understands the individual motivations and actions of each person; He sees into the "spirits" or hearts of everyone.
"...shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?": This is the core of their intercession. They are essentially asking:
Should the entire community be punished for the sin of a few?
Is it just for God to unleash his wrath on the whole nation when only a single person (or a small group of people, like Korah and his followers) is responsible for the sin?
In essence, the meaning is this: Moses and Aaron, recognizing the severity of Korah's rebellion and its potential consequences, are pleading with God to exercise mercy and restraint. They remind God of his omniscience – that He knows the hearts of all people and should distinguish between the guilty and the innocent. They are appealing to God's sense of justice, asking Him not to punish the entire congregation for the sins of a few individuals.
Significance:
Intercession: This verse exemplifies intercessory prayer, where individuals plead with God on behalf of others.
Justice vs. Mercy: It raises the theological question of divine justice versus divine mercy, and how God balances the two.
Corporate Responsibility: It touches upon the idea of corporate responsibility, where the actions of individuals can have consequences for the entire community.
God's Character: Moses and Aaron are appealing to God's character, believing that he is just and merciful and will not punish the innocent along with the guilty.
This verse highlights the role of leaders in pleading for their people and the importance of appealing to God's justice and mercy in times of crisis. It also acknowledges God's intimate knowledge of individuals and his power to discern between the righteous and the wicked.
Numbers 16:22 - They fell on their faces, and said, “God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?”
What does "Numbers 16:22" mean?
This verse, Numbers 16:22, is a powerful plea from Moses and Aaron to God in the face of rebellion. Let's break it down:
"They fell on their faces...": This is a common posture of humility, submission, and desperate supplication before God. It shows they were deeply affected by the situation and genuinely concerned about God's reaction.
"...and said, “God, the God of the spirits of all flesh...": This part of the prayer is significant for a couple of reasons:
"God": They are addressing God directly.
"the God of the spirits of all flesh": This phrase emphasizes God's intimate knowledge and control over every individual. It suggests that God understands the individual motivations and actions of each person; He sees into the "spirits" or hearts of everyone.
"...shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?": This is the core of their intercession. They are essentially asking:
Should the entire community be punished for the sin of a few?
Is it just for God to unleash his wrath on the whole nation when only a single person (or a small group of people, like Korah and his followers) is responsible for the sin?
In essence, the meaning is this: Moses and Aaron, recognizing the severity of Korah's rebellion and its potential consequences, are pleading with God to exercise mercy and restraint. They remind God of his omniscience – that He knows the hearts of all people and should distinguish between the guilty and the innocent. They are appealing to God's sense of justice, asking Him not to punish the entire congregation for the sins of a few individuals.
Significance:
Intercession: This verse exemplifies intercessory prayer, where individuals plead with God on behalf of others.
Justice vs. Mercy: It raises the theological question of divine justice versus divine mercy, and how God balances the two.
Corporate Responsibility: It touches upon the idea of corporate responsibility, where the actions of individuals can have consequences for the entire community.
God's Character: Moses and Aaron are appealing to God's character, believing that he is just and merciful and will not punish the innocent along with the guilty.
This verse highlights the role of leaders in pleading for their people and the importance of appealing to God's justice and mercy in times of crisis. It also acknowledges God's intimate knowledge of individuals and his power to discern between the righteous and the wicked.