Commentaries:
They are accusing Moses of appointing himself. "You take too much upon yourself. We're just as good as you." Yet, that is not the issue. The issue is respect for God through the office He had appointed the man to.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Unity (Part 2): God's Pattern of Leadership
Moses must have had a premonition of what was coming, so he called upon God to make a visible choice between him and these men who were the representatives of the complainers.
We have to see God as the Head of His creation—He rules over and governs everything. What is He looking for on earth? He is looking for people who will submit to that rule—once they recognize where the real power and authority in the creation resides. He is looking for people who will submit to it voluntarily, of their own free will—people who will consciously choose to submit to the rule, the way, of God.
These men were not like this. All they saw was Moses, and that he seemed to have a lot of authority.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Submitting (Part 2)
This would be similar to all the leading men of a worldwide church marching up to the person in charge of that church, and demanding that he kowtow to their terms.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Countering Presumptuousness
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Numbers 16:2:
Jude 1:6