...
YOUTH STS LESSON 146 FIRST FRUITS AND TITHES

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

TEXT: Numbers 25:1-18 

MEMORY VERSE: “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).

 

From our last lesson, we saw how both Balaam and Balak did everything they could to curse the children of Israel. They made three different attempts to curse the children of Israel. Rather than cursing, God gave to Balaam a prophecy of blessings upon the children of Israel. Instead, Balaam told Balak. “How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?” (Numbers 23:8). He revealed why it was impossible for him to curse the people. “He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him… (Numbers 23:21). In a very clear term, when we live a life of holiness and obedience to God, no enemy can hurt us. “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not” (1 John 5:18).

 

Question 1: Does the enemy give up easily in spiritual warfare against Christian youths?

 

Having tried so hard with no positive result, Balaam gave up cursing the children of Israel. He said, “And now, behold, I go unto my people...” (Numbers 24:14). One would think that that was the end; he actually resigned to trying alternative method of destroying Israel. He advised Moab on how to make Israel sin. “And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods” such that, “the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab” (verse 2,1). Satan does not give up on anyone easily. If he tries one method and it does not work, he would seek another (Luke 4:1-13). Unfortunately, for the children of Israel, they fell prey to Balaam’s trap.

 

  1. DANGER OF ASSOCIATING WITH UNGODLY PEOPLE.

Numbers 25:1-3; 31:15,16; Revelation 2:14; 2 Timothy 4:10; Matthew 13:22; Hebrews 3:13; 1 Peter 2:11.

 

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” (verses 1-3). The children of Israel got deeply involved in relationship with the people of Moab and committed immorality with their daughters. They honoured invitations to attend their idolatrous ceremonies, which gave them the chance to fully partake in their evil celebrations, during which they met seductive ladies and committed whoredom. All these are the tactics of the enemy.

 

Question 2: What is the danger of having close relationship with unbelievers?

 

And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel (Numbers 25:3). As they compromised with unbelievers, they incurred the wrath of God. Demas forsook the Lord because he mingled with and loved the present world. Therefore, he lost his place in heaven. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God (Hebrews 3:12). Jesus also was tempted but He overcame. Christian youths can also overcome today.

 

Question 3: What precaution should Christian youths take in these last days as they await the coming of Christ?

 

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour’ (1 Peter 5:8). For a Christian youth to overcome in these last days, the following precautions must be taken.

One, do not keep close a relationship with the opposite gender, whether they are Christians or not (Proverbs 6:27.28).

Two, do not keep close relationship with sinners (Psalm 1:1; Proverbs 1:10-15. 22:24,25; 1 Corinthians 15:33).

Three, open your heart to scriptural exhortations (Hebrews 3:13).

Four, do not allow the care for earthly things rise above the demand for God’s word(Matthew 13:22; Colossians 3:2,3).

Five, read, obey the word of God and pray always (James 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). The command of the Lord is, “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

 

  1. THE DIVINE PUNISHMENT FOR EVIL DOERS

Numbers 25:3-9,14-18: 1 Timothy 5:20; Deuteronomy 13:6-11; 17:12,13; Titus 1:13; 1 Corinthians 10:10

 

And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. 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” (verse 3, 4). God cannot excuse sin at any time and in any dispensation, regardless of who commits the sin (Habakkuk 1:13; Proverbs 11:21: 16:5). Therefore, God instructed that the heads of those who had pioneered and encouraged the evil should be hung. This would serve as a public lesson to every other person among the children of Israel that God did not want them to continue in the same sin. “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear” (1 Timothy 5:20).

 

Question 4: How should sin be dealt with in the church today?

 

And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor“(verse 5). While that was going on, one man of the tribe of Simeon, from a noble family, brought a Midianitish woman into the camp to commit immorality. Phinehas went after them in the tent and pierced both of them through with a javelin. Leaders and members should cooperate in rebuking sin publicly. However, Christian youths are not expected to fight or physically assault sinners, but preach the gospel to them in love or report unrepentant sinning members to the leaders in the church for necessary action.

 

Question 5: What is the danger of continuing in sin?

 

How unfortunate it was for Zimri and his sin partner, Cozbi! They met death unprepared and went to hell. Sinners have the privilege of repenting now; the next moment is not guaranteed. Ananias and his wife died while Peter was still admonishing them for lying (Acts 5:3-10). “While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation…. behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (Hebrews 3:15; 2 Corinthians 6:2). All sinning youths should repent from their sins and come to God.

 

  1. THE DEVOTION AND CONSECRATION OF A DEDICATED BELIEVER

Numbers 25:6-13; Matthew 10:37,38; Daniel 1:8; 12:3; Malachi 2:5

Zimri, in the sight of everyone who was weeping for the lives lost as a result of sin, brought in a woman, and Phinehas, Aaron’s grandson, rose from among the people to kill him and his sin partner. Children of leaders are challenged to live and stand for the truth as every other member of the church is expected to obey the word of God.

 

Question 6: What are the marks of a life dedicated to God?

 

Phinehas and Zimri had the same great-grandmother, Leab (Genesis 29:33,34; Numbers 25:11). But he put sentiments off when he needed to deal with sin. Though he saw the evil just like every other person who saw it and did nothing, he dared to stand alone. He was zealous for his God. He knew his action was going to be painful, he did what he had to do. When our lives are dedicated to God, we do not allow sentiments for our family or friend to stand in our way of executing divine justice. Also, we dare to be different and stand alone even if others are not willing. We are to use the word of God to condemn every evil.

 

Question 7: Does God have a reward for those who are dedicated to Him?

 

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” (Numbers 25:12,13). God was so pleased with Phinehas that He made a covenant of peace and everlasting priesthood with him. God has rewards for all those who are dedicated to His cause. Be another Phinehas today in your society.

Impact-Site-Verification: 3dd07c27-15ee-4da9-ad11-5cf87a2ff699

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Adult Sts Lesson 144 Sanctity Of Life And Family Values Previous post ADULT STS LESSON 110: ISRAEL’S WHOREDOM AND THE ZEAL OF PHINEHAS
Next post Cantiques et Hymnes d’église (M.V.C.P), Deeper Hymns in French
Seraphinite AcceleratorOptimized by Seraphinite Accelerator
Turns on site high speed to be attractive for people and search engines.