18.

When the people complained, God burned them to death

Here's a fun little Bible story for you.

It all happens in just two verses.

When the people complained, it displeased the LORD. Numbers 11:1a

The Bible doesn't say what the people were complaining about. Spending years wandering around in the desert following a cloud around? Not having enough food or water? Having friends and family killed for no good reason? It doesn't say.

But whatever it was, God heard it. (He had his hearing aid on.)

And the LORD heard it. 11:1b

So what do you think God did? Did he explain why he was leading them around for 40 years without adequate food or water on a trip that should have taken a few weeks?

Not quite. Here's what he did.

His anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. 11:1c

I don't know for sure, of course, but I think God was trying to teach parents a lesson here. When your kids complain, burn them to death. God teaches best when he teaches by example.

Finally the people beg Moses to make God stop. And God stopped burning people to death.

The people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. 11:2

Don't you just love happy endings?

(How many people did God burn to death in this episode? The Bible doesn't say, so I just guessed 100.)