November 13, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Numbers and 1 Corinthians? Here’s today’s reading:
Numbers 25 (NIV)
Moab Seduces Israel
1 While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2 who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. 3 So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.……Continue Reading
Well what Balak wanted for his enemy and could not accomplish, Israel did to itself through their own disobedience. I suppose if we are honest with ourselves we are not that different and usually our own worst enemy when it comes to our walk with God.
Their own sexual desires when left unchecked led to idolatry that led to God’s cursing them in anger. Once again rather than seeing all they have with God they instead (and this time quite flagrantly) sinned against Him causing much pain and death among them.
Numbers 25
“But those who died from the plague were twenty-four thousand in number” (verse 9)
Earlier in Numbers God says Israel will wander in the wilderness for 40 years and the entire generation who doubted him would die off and their children would enter the promised land. When you first read that, you might assume that they would die in the wilderness of old age or something. But most of them died from situations like this where God either told Moses and the elders to kill those who acted un-righteously or God would cast plagues on them Himself.
I had the same thought as Kelly and the inconsistency of God’s protection of Israel and their defiance of Him. It is interesting that God has the Israelite leaders take part in some of the judgment and He takes care of the rest. But He desires the disobedient to be made an example to the other Jews of what happens when they defy God. And how blatant the pride of this one Israelite to flaunt his sin before God and the people. Our passion for righteousness and God will not be expressed in the same way as Phineas, but may we share the same commitment in our own lives to do what pleases God and not what pleases the flesh.
Can’t read this without thinking of book of James. Giving birth to sin and how it snowballs to worshipping false gods, dismissing the almighty. Also reminded me of 1 Corinthian 5. Little bit of yeast. Get rid of it. Perfect example today is the Catholic Church. In the 60’s they were the Roman Empire. All churches were full. 1990 it was exposed they had yeast and they let it spread. Now they struggle to keep doors open
Numbers 25
”They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel.“
Numbers 25:2-3 NKJV
The worship of false gods is egregious and the consequences severe. Phineas’ zeal for God was commended.
I sometimes wonder if we should be more zealous in our stand for Jesus and righteousness…not in killing people, but in pleading for them to repent and follow Jesus. Should we be confronting false teachers and unrighteousness in our churches or other churches? There are several Bishops standing up against the Pope and his acceptance of homosexuality and trans ideology among other things. Even though we disagree in some doctrines, their boldness to confront those within is commendable.
Numbers 25