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ADULT STS LESSON 110: ISRAEL’S WHOREDOM AND THE ZEAL OF PHINEHAS

MEMORY VERSE: “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” (Numbers 25.11).

TEXT: NUMBERS 25:1-18

 

In the preceding chapters, Israel was portrayed as an invulnerable and invincible army of the Lord. The divination and curses targeted at them by Balak and Balaam had proved abortive in the face of divine protection (Numbers 23:23). Unfortunately, what the enchantments of Balaam could not achieve, the charm of Baal-worshipping women of Moab accomplished with ease. Against the warnings they had received, Israel succumbed to the grievous temptation of the flesh. They went into the twin evils of immorality and idolatry with the daughters of Moab. By committing immorality, they became spiritually weak and vulnerable to the enemy. “And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel” (Numbers 25:3). The outcome was devastating as twenty-four thousand people lost their lives in the ensuing plague. Truly, the wages of sin is death! Sadly, while the children of Israel mourned the casualties of the plague, an audacious Israelite, Zimri, the son of a prince from the tribe of Simeon brought a Midianitish woman into the tent near the tabernacle of the congregation. This aroused the anger of Phinehas who went after the sinful duo in their tent and struck them dead with his javelin. This zeal against sin earned him divine commendation and everlasting covenant of peace and priesthood. Children of God should be wary of the destructive nature of immorality and idolatry – a screaming lesson which is underscored in this study. They should not only resist these evils in their lives, but contend earnestly against them in the church of the living God. The zeal demonstrated by Phinehas provides a motivation in this regard.

 

  1. SEDUCTION AND CORRUPTION BY THE MOABITES

Numbers 25:1-5; Psalm 106:28,29; Deuteronomy 7:1-4; 13:6-11; Proverbs 1:10; Revelation 2:14,20.

 

The ungodly effort of Balak who had hired Balaam to curse the children of Israel without a cause was thwarted by divine intervention (Numbers chapters 22 to 24). However, knowing that he could not curse Israel because iniquity was not found in them (Numbers 23:21) and so God has blessed them, Balaam counselled Balak to infiltrate their camp with whoredom and idolatry (Numbers 31:1-16; Revelation 2:14). “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab” (Numbers 25:1). They also partook in their idolatrous sacrifices and bowed to their gods.

Consequently, a plague broke out among them and claimed the lives of twenty-four thousand people. Israel forgot that the reason no enemy could hurt them was because God “hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel”. Israel was declared to be a peculiar nation, chosen and married to God. “For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth (Psalm 135:4; Deuteronomy 7:6). Therefore, God warned and commanded them expressly to be holy and not to worship any other god or have any relationship with the daughters of heathen nations. His holy requirements against intermingling with the heathen are clearly set out in the commandments He gave to them (Exodus 20:35; Deuteronomy 5:7-9; 6:12-15). Likewise, the New Testament Church is married to Christ; hence, holiness of life should be a common denominator in all generations of those who walk with Him. Every believer must remain holy to continue to be a bride of Christ. Our preservation and protection in Christ is only guaranteed if we walk in holiness and remain obedient to the word of God. Against the backdrop of God’s warning against immorality and idolatry, “…Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against [them]” (Numbers 25:3). As a result, He commanded Moses to carry out a public execution by hanging their judges who misled the people into sin. “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” (Numbers 25:4). The fact that only the erring judges were to be hanged (Numbers 25:5) amplifies the righteousness of God who will not permit sin even if it was committed by leaders. He is impartial and no respecter of persons (Exodus 32:27-29). This teaches us the sanctity and delicate nature of spiritual leadership. Christian leaders must avoid every form of compromise so that their actions or inaction will not mislead and destroy the people of God under their leadership.

 

  1. STAY OF THE PLAGUE THROUGH PHINEHAS’ ZEAL

Numbers 25:6-15; Psalm 106:30,31; 119:139; John 2:13-17; Revelation 18:4

 

While the children of Israel languished from the consequences of their whoredom, with victims of the plague all over the place, “a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites” by name Zimri impudently and brazenly brought in a sin partner, Cozbi, daughter of a Midianitish prince, into the tent. These two immoral partners were so depraved, insensitive and callous in their immorality that they engaged in their sinful act in a tent near the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. They committed their high-profile whoredom, as it were, in the house of God. The Bible describes their act as committed “…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 (Numbers 25:6). Sadly, some people nowadays carry their depravity into the house of God. They commit sin with their sin partners in the church, steal offerings, pilfer cellphones and snatch wallets and hand bags from worshippers during service sessions. Such individuals need to quickly repent before it is too late because it amounts to abomination carried too far. “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 (Numbers 25:7,8). In his saintly exhibition of intolerance of evil, Phinehas demonstrated rare zeal, courage and piety, and went after the two impudent sinners and struck them with a javelin. His passion for holiness would not withstand the brazen disregard for God. These people died suddenly in the act and went to a damnable eternity. When people commit sin with impunity, saints should rise with equal passion to defend God’s honour and glory. Such sinners must be rebuked openly to serve as deterrent to others (1 Timothy 5:20). To continue to enjoy the presence of God in our lives, families and in the church, we must be bold to deal with sin as Christ would. Believers Should continue to preach the gospel to save sinners before they meet with God’s judgment and pass on to eternal hell. The wages of sin committed by either a backslider or a sinner – represented by Zimri and Cozbi – is death (Romans 6:23). Christians should take a cue from their sudden destruction and avoid unequal yoking with unbelievers in friendship, marriage and other relationships, which can lead them into sin. Phinehas’ action was not only justified by God, he was commended and rewarded. 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” (Numbers 25:10,11).

One, he received the commendation- the highest honour anyone could get.

Two, there was a covenant between the Almighty God and a mortal being which was not only limited to him but to his posterity.

Three, he also had the privileged office of priesthood ceded to him perpetually. The Lord always honours those who honour Him (1 Samuel 2:30; John 12:26).

 

  1. VICTORY OVER THE MIDIANITES IN WARFARE

Numbers 25:16-18; 31:1-8,16; Proverbs 20:22; 24:29; Matthew 5:38-41

 

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” (Numbers 25:16-18). The Midianites were a heathen nation, though descendants of Abraham with his wife or concubine, Keturah, whom he married after the death of Sarah (Genesis 25:1-6). However, being an impartial God, the wicked shall not go unpunished (Proverbs 11:21). He never considered the Midianites’ relationship with Abraham in pronouncing judgment against them for their ungodly role in aligning with Moab to lure the children of Israel into idolatry and whoredom in line with the ungodly counsel of Balaam (Numbers 31:16; Revelation 2:14). By commanding that the Midianites should be vexed or smitten, God was taking vengeance on the wicked for causing the righteous to fall from their righteousness (Matthew 18:6,7). By this command, we learn that;

One, His judgment is impartial and double-edged. As He punished Israel for yielding to temptation, so also, He had to punish the tempter for leading His people to sin (Jeremiah 25:29; 1 Peter 4:17).

Two, no excuse would be tenable enough to escape judgment on the last day. No one would claim that it was the devil that caused him or her to go to hell.

Three, there is no way of escape for evildoers who continue in their wickedness.

Four, no matter how long it takes, judgment will surely come. Balaam continued (between chapter twenty-four of Numbers), without repenting of his ways, until retributive justice caught up with him in chapter thirty-one where he was killed in battle (Numbers 31:8).

Five, God has promised to spoil those that try to spoil us; hence, we should leave vengeance to Him (Proverbs 22:23; Isaiah 17:14; 33:1; Romans 2:9).

 

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

  1. How can believers tackle the issue of sin in the church today?
  2. What do we learn from God’s judgment on the judges of Israel?
  3. What should be our response to impudent sinners in the house of God?
  4. What was the motivating factor for Phinehas’ action against Zimri and Cozbi?
  5. How can we earn God’s commendation and covenant of peace?
  6. Why did God judge the Midianites?
  7. Why should we leave the vengeance of our enemies to God?

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