We have seen already in Numbers that God desires the whole-hearted trust, obedience, worship, and love from His people, Israel. He will not share His glory with another. Remember in the 10 Commandments in Exodus, “You shall have no other gods before me.” When Israel is swayed by the neighboring Moabites into turning away from God and His law by adopting their lifestyles and worshipping their false gods (idols), God acts in justice to bring His people back to Himself.

If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that it is also very easy for us to be swayed by our culture’s values, to get caught up with the things of the world, instead of fixing our hearts wholly on God. May we be like Phinehas, filled with righteous obedience and zeal for the name of the Lord.

Monica Godfrey

Numbers 25

While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. 2 These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. 4 And the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the LORD, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.” 5 And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.”

6 And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand 8 and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. 9 Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.

10 And the LORD said to Moses, 11 “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy.12 Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, 13 and it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.’”

14 The name of the slain man of Israel, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, chief of a father’s house belonging to the Simeonites. 15 And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of Zur, who was the tribal head of a father’s house in Midian.

16 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 17 “Harass the Midianites and strike them down, 18 for they have harassed you with their wiles, with which they beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the chief of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague on account of Peor.”

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ In verses 1-3, how does Israel become unfaithful to God? What commands do they ignore while with the Moabites?

+ How does God respond [v.4-5, 8-9]?

+ In verse 6, what are all the people of Israel doing before the tent of meeting? (except a man named Zimri.)

+ What is Zimri doing instead? How is this a flagrant disregard for God’s command?

+ How does Eleazar’s son, Phinehas, respond to Zimri’s action? (As the next-to-be high priest, it is likely that he would be a judge of Israel, who Moses commands in verse 5).

+ What does God say about Phinehas’ actions [v. 10-13]? What does God remove from the people of Israel?

+ What does God command Moses to do with the Midianites and why? [v. 16-18]

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Is there a place in my life where something else in taking the place of obedience and love of God? Is my heart fixed fully on Him?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?