Moses and Aaron Pray that Yahweh Will Spare the Congregation of Israel (Numbers 16:22).
‘And they fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?”
At His words Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before Yahweh. All the antagonism and argument had been directed against them, but their hearts were full of compassion for the people. They recognised the justice of God in acting against the blasphemers with their censers, but they themselves saw the people as not to blame. (They were later to learn how wrong they were (Numbers 16:41)).
They asked Yahweh if He thought that it was right to blame the many for the few. Was He not the God of the spirits of all flesh? Did not all the life within (the ‘spirit') belong to Him? Had He not created them and given them life? Would He then destroy life unnecessarily? Surely He would not destroy the many for the one? He was the life-giver, not the life-taker.