The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Numbers 25:16-18,
"The Lord said to Moses, 'Treat the Midianites as enemies and kill them. They treated you as enemies when they deceived you in the Peor incident involving their sister Kozbi, the daughter of a Midianite leader, the woman who was killed when the plague came as a result of that incident.'"
The Midianites and Moabites had formed an alliance against Israel when Israel drew near their borders. They felt threatened by Israel and due to what happened to the Egyptians forty years earlier during the plagues of Egypt (which, apparently everyone was aware of in that part of the world), they feared Israel's relationship with their God. These pagan nations all had their own gods and were considered strong if they could keep their gods happy. This chapter describes a plan of deceit they devised in an attempt to separate Israel from God. They enticed Israelite men by having Moabite women invite them to their fertility festival, which involved Baal worship and sex with the Moabite women.
As do many of the accounts of the history of Israel in the Scriptures, the Lord brings perspective here. When it comes to those who might entice us to sin, they become our enemies. Opportunities to engage in those things the Lord abhors become opportunities to do damage brought on by an appeal from the spiritually dark side of humanity and/or our own sinful nature.
I remain confident the Lord is able to keep believers safely within him throughout life, "He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:8-9. And, while this is true, there is nonetheless great damage that can be brought to the church, to the gospel enterprise, to our families and to ourselves when we might yield to such enticements.
"The Lord said to Moses, 'Treat the Midianites as enemies and kill them. They treated you as enemies when they deceived you in the Peor incident involving their sister Kozbi, the daughter of a Midianite leader, the woman who was killed when the plague came as a result of that incident.'"
The Midianites and Moabites had formed an alliance against Israel when Israel drew near their borders. They felt threatened by Israel and due to what happened to the Egyptians forty years earlier during the plagues of Egypt (which, apparently everyone was aware of in that part of the world), they feared Israel's relationship with their God. These pagan nations all had their own gods and were considered strong if they could keep their gods happy. This chapter describes a plan of deceit they devised in an attempt to separate Israel from God. They enticed Israelite men by having Moabite women invite them to their fertility festival, which involved Baal worship and sex with the Moabite women.
As do many of the accounts of the history of Israel in the Scriptures, the Lord brings perspective here. When it comes to those who might entice us to sin, they become our enemies. Opportunities to engage in those things the Lord abhors become opportunities to do damage brought on by an appeal from the spiritually dark side of humanity and/or our own sinful nature.
I remain confident the Lord is able to keep believers safely within him throughout life, "He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:8-9. And, while this is true, there is nonetheless great damage that can be brought to the church, to the gospel enterprise, to our families and to ourselves when we might yield to such enticements.
Whenever one comes along to offer or entice you into something you have no business being involved in, that one becomes your enemy. Just ask the 24,000 people who died at God's hand due to the Israelite men like Zimri who took advantage of the Moabite women's offer.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment