Tucked between all those censuses and camp arrangements in Numbers are some of the strangest stories in Scripture. There is fire from heaven, meat coming out of people’s nostrils, a woman suddenly turning white with leprosy, the ground swallowing people alive, a dead stick growing almonds, venomous snakes, and a donkey that starts talking.
The Jealousy Test
If a husband suspected his wife of adultery but had no witness or proof, he could bring her to the priest. The priest put holy water in an earthenware vessel, added dust from the floor of the tabernacle, pronounced a curse, wrote the curse on a scroll, washed the words into the water and made the woman drink it. If she was innocent, she would be unharmed. If she was guilty, the curse would take effect.
Quail Coming Out Your Nostrils
The people complained that they wanted meat, so God told them they were going to get it. Not for just a day or two. They would eat meat until it came out of their nostrils and became disgusting to them. When the quail arrived, a plague struck while the meat was still between their teeth. I think I’ve read something like this in a Parenting magazine before…
Miriam Gets Leprosy
Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses, and God called all three of them to the tent of meeting. When the cloud lifted, Miriam was suddenly leprous and described as white as snow. Aaron immediately begged Moses to do something, and Moses cried out to God for her healing. Moral of the story – Don’t talk that mess!
The Ground Swallows Korah’s Rebellion
Korah and others rebelled against Moses and Aaron. Moses said that if the ground opened and swallowed them alive, everyone would know the LORD had sent him. The ground split open, swallowed the rebels, their households and possessions, then closed over them. Fire from the LORD consumed 250 more men who had been offering incense.
Aaron’s Staff Grows Almonds
God told Moses to collect a staff from each tribal leader and place them before the testimony. By the next morning, Aaron’s staff had sprouted, produced buds, blossomed and grown ripe almonds. A dead piece of wood had basically completed an entire growing season overnight.
Look at the Bronze Snake and Live
After the Israelites complained again, venomous snakes came among them and many people died. God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. Anyone who had been bitten could look at the bronze serpent and live. I need one of those for my hikes…
Balaam’s Donkey Starts Talking
Balaam’s donkey saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword, but Balaam could not see Him. After Balaam beat the donkey three times, the LORD opened her mouth and she asked Balaam why he kept hitting her. Balaam answered her and argued back as though having a conversation with his donkey was not the strangest part of his day.