Setting - Israel joins themselves to worshiping the gods and practices of Baal.
Content - It looks like Balaam provided the Midianites instructions on how to provoke God to anger against Israel (Num. 31:16, Num. 25:3). Since Balaam would not curse Israel, as Balak hoped for, this might have been another course of action.
God instructed Moses to execute the leaders of Israel in broad daylight to turn away the anger of the Lord. While the people were still grieving the loss of the leaders from execution, Zimri (Jew) brought Cozbi (Midianite women) into the congregation. Phinehas executed both of them in a tent right away. This stopped the plague from furthering. Phinehas, and his descendents, were blessed because of the righteous jealousy.
Application - God didn’t want Israel to follow or get entangled with the Midianites pagan worship practices. God doesn’t want us to follow or entangle ourselves in the world’s pagan practices. Worldly practices come in many forms, gossip, slander, abuse of drugs and alcohol, sexual immorality, pursuit of money, fame, etc. Israel exchanged God’s design of worship with mans design. I can find myself wanting to do “Jon’s worship formula” because it’s more convenient and comfortable or fun for me.
We see how God greatly blessed Israel. God withdrew His blessing when they didn’t follow His commandments. God provided these commandments as a path for blessing. We seem to not to trust that God’s way is the right way.
Content - It looks like Balaam provided the Midianites instructions on how to provoke God to anger against Israel (Num. 31:16, Num. 25:3). Since Balaam would not curse Israel, as Balak hoped for, this might have been another course of action.
God instructed Moses to execute the leaders of Israel in broad daylight to turn away the anger of the Lord. While the people were still grieving the loss of the leaders from execution, Zimri (Jew) brought Cozbi (Midianite women) into the congregation. Phinehas executed both of them in a tent right away. This stopped the plague from furthering. Phinehas, and his descendents, were blessed because of the righteous jealousy.
Application - God didn’t want Israel to follow or get entangled with the Midianites pagan worship practices. God doesn’t want us to follow or entangle ourselves in the world’s pagan practices. Worldly practices come in many forms, gossip, slander, abuse of drugs and alcohol, sexual immorality, pursuit of money, fame, etc. Israel exchanged God’s design of worship with mans design. I can find myself wanting to do “Jon’s worship formula” because it’s more convenient and comfortable or fun for me.
We see how God greatly blessed Israel. God withdrew His blessing when they didn’t follow His commandments. God provided these commandments as a path for blessing. We seem to not to trust that God’s way is the right way.
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