Something I have pondered about.

[Clint.]

Numbers 16:1-35
Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites--Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth--became insolent [2] and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. [3] They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord's assembly?"
[4] When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. [5] Then he said to Korah and all his followers: "In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him. [6] You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers [7] and tomorrow put fire and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!"
[8] Moses also said to Korah, "Now listen, you Levites! [9] Isn't it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord's tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? [10] He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. [11] It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?"
[12] Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, "We will not come! [13] Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us? [14] Moreover, you haven't brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!"
[15] Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, "Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them."
[16] Moses said to Korah, "You and all your followers are to appear before the Lord tomorrow--you and they and Aaron. [17] Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it--250 censers in all--and present it before the Lord. You and Aaron are to present your censers also." [18] So each man took his censer, put fire and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. [19] When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire assembly. [20] The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, [21] "Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once."
[22] But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?"
[23] Then the Lord said to Moses, [24] "Say to the assembly, 'Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.' "
[25] Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. [26] He warned the assembly, "Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins." [27] So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents.
[28] Then Moses said, "This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: [29] If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the Lord has not sent me. [30] But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt."
[31] As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart [32] and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. [33] They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. [34] At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, "The earth is going to swallow us too!"
[35] And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
_________________________

Ok, this is the kicker. I can understand God's anger. I can understand His dealing with the perpetrators of these heinous acts.
But why did God do this to the wives, children, and little ones (v.27)?
It was from His own hand. It was a judgment upon seemingly innocent ones...even "little ones" ....obviously even smaller ones that the children mentioned.
What possible justification could a loving and merciful God have for this?

Clint

[Judyboi]

I feel that God could save them in their ignorance and prevent them from becoming even more corrupt. Also, by completely eliminating the wicked, their wickedness is not allowed to propagate.

[Knightia]

What possible justification could a loving and merciful God have for this?

But do ya really want me to answer with my opinions?

Isnt the standard answer he is god& made us& can do anything he wants?
No justaification needed?
Why would god be angry? he dosnt know what to expect from his creations? Is he ruled by human emotions ? Dont you find it strange he acts very human as told in the book? Or thats just because we where made in his image?
But we do know dealing with this real world humans arent perfect. Why wouldnt men question moses or any man making such claims?Why would someone think him a loving god if his actions in the storys show otherwise? They do seem to- but it also seems thats why a Jesus was needed- a counterpart- the loving god& the enforcer god of wrath, dishing out of death& dispair.I am sure the world hasnt changed much- wickness still prospers,as it did after the claimed cleansing flood -& later Christ - as like the example above - claiming all- innocent& corrpted alike all killed as one.

And all this from a all knowing all seeing god who is perfect& can do anything & loving of all?

Create a whole perfect world& as your best creation a being like yourself god & with only these two even - know that they will fail& plan on the death& distruction& torture of all those who are to follow them - save a very small portion of those who ever lived only & distroy there world.

Ppl really believe god that short sighted & flawed in his plans for mankind& planing& he gods worldly creations?

Well i guess so, thats what is said anyways right?

Fear punishment & aspire with promises of great rewards.

Fear men who claim to know&say gods words& works id think even more?

I have never had god speak to me- i have talked with& seen men& know there nature.

I will deal with god if& when the time comes& if its in hell so be it.

[Chuck7]

Clint,
There are quite a few verses like these that I don't understand. I'm one of those simple guys just trust that God knows what He is doing even if it goes against our understanding. We are in the age of grace so to speak now where we don't see these things.However; there is going to come a time when the wrath of God will come again and He will pour His wrath on the earth. So He is still the same God . He has just made a way of escape through means of His Son's blood.
Romans 9:13
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
9:14
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
9:15
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
9:16
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
9:17
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
9:18
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
9:19
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
9:20
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
9:21
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?