This is the beginning of the end for the Canaanites. But, it also depicts how mankind chases after godless things, even though they have only just known God’s wrath for sin. Moab, Midian, and other Cannanites, were very much under the influence of powerful prophets such as Balaam, and the Israelites were still looking for sexual and other novelties. So much so that God quickly showed his wrath in deadly fashion. We are all the same – easily distracted from true faith by satanic activities (though we pretend otherwise). But, there is always a reminder from God.
Verses 1-3
- “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
- And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
- And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.”
After the record given of Balak and Balaam, we see that the Israelites camped in Shittim (‘the acacias’), east of the Jordan. Unfortunately, even after multiple experiences where God punished the people, some Israelites decided to sin by having relationships with Moabite women. Others were enticed into sacrifices to Baal and other local gods, specifically the Baal of Peor, and bowed down in worship before their idols. Idolatry was specifically why God showed them his wrath, and yet the Israelites quickly forgot their own living Lord, Jehovah, thus heaping trouble upon their own heads. In this we see the unpalatable fact that everyone who is a sinner, even after salvation, can and does fall to their own sinful (former) natures. After so many acts of wickedness, God was very angry with them. In our own day, God is just as angry when His elect turn to sin as a way of living, and follow sexual practices known throughout the ages.
Verses 4&5
- “And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.
- And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.”
Moses likely knew of these reported vices, and God spoke to him about what became an ‘unholy mess’. To sin amongst the elect is one thing, but to show such sin before the world draws God to intense anger, for His Name is taken in vain by those who supposedly claim salvation, causing the world to laugh in derision.
The result of Israel’s impropriety was swift. God commanded Moses to behead all who indulged in Moabite sins, and to hang the heads so the sun shone on them, displayed as a public disgrace hated by Jehovah. Let God see the heads first, so all other Israelites were not similarly punished. The judges of Israel were commanded to slay everyone who was guilty of baal/peor worship (Baal was even worshipped in Jerusalem at that time). Today, few Christians relate their woes or the woes of others to sin and God’s punishments, and so they do not repent as they ought.
Verses 6-9
- “And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
- And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;
- And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
- And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.”
One Israelite man dared to bring a Midianite woman into the camp for sexual purposes… even as many Israelites were crying in repentance before the door of the Tabernacle. But, Phinehas, grandson of Aaron and a priest, picked up a javelin and marched to the tent where the illicit activity was going on. He immediately thrust the javelin into the man and through the stomach of the Midianite woman. At that juncture God stayed His punishment of the people for their sins. Even then, 24,000 Israelites were put to death for entering into Moabite sins. In our modern days, Christians seem unaware that God STILL punishes sin outwardly as well as inwardly. Those who continue in habitual sins will be brought to nought by God, and often in a public way as a warning.
Verses 10-13
- “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
- Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.
- Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:
- And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.”
God spoke to Moses, praising Phinehas the priest for taking immediate action against wicked Israelites. Because of his prompt righteous anger, Phinehas stopped God’s wrath against all Israelites. Moses was to tell the priest of God’s praise, which gave him and his descendants a promise of peace and favour. God accepted the execution of the couple as an act of atonement for all Israel. Today, we sin easily. Would a modern couple expect to be killed instantly for being caught in adultery? Would local churches call the couple guilty? Would the couple be called to repentance, and if they did not repent, be cast out of fellowship and called adulterers? Would they then be shunned? Immediate response is needed by God, for it is His laws that are being broken, not ours. Our correct response is vital, because it will stop God administering a far more overpowering punishment on the whole local church.
Verses 14-18
- “Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites.
- And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.
- And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
- Vex the Midianites, and smite them:
- For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.”
The names of the fornicating couple are given, to their shame: the Israelite man was Zimri. He was a son of a chieftain, which made his sin worse and a public shame on his father. The Midianite woman was a princess, Cozbi, who also brought shame upon her family and nation.
But, her sin had a greater consequence, for God wanted to punish the entire nation of Midian. Not just for the sins of the princess, but for luring the Israelites into their worship system and committing evil against God’s laws. Make no mistake – when a nation does this it lays itself open to punishment from God. We see this in the West, including Britain. It is also why, at the time of writing, Britain suffers the assault of a socialist government and the wickedness of homosexuality, Islam and environmentalism – there are many more reasons.
The ‘wiles’ of the Midianites were sexual and religious, all under the guise of worship of the god of Peor, Baal… the name of the high mountain place was also given to the god… thus, we could say ‘the Baal of Peor’. We see in verse 18 that the fornication (probably including adultery) of the princess led directly to the slaughter of many Midianites. Do you think that the Western love of sexual impropriety and worship of a false god (including Romanist, Islamic, etc) does not lead to our punishment as a nation? Think hard about it! Many supposed Christians enter into fornicating/adulterous relationships. Do you really think this can continue? If they suffer physically or mentally during their sinful relationship, do you link it to God’s wrath? Well, you should! God hates all sin. Full-stop!
© 09 November 2024
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Published on www.christiandoctrine.com
Bible Theology Ministries
Swansea
Wales
United Kingdom