Thursday, June 25, 2015

Numbers 25: Balaam's Advice?

Balaam went home in Numbers 24, unable to bring himself to curse Israel.  But the events of Numbers 25 and following indicate that Balaam may have known the key to cause spiritual destruction to Israel, by causing them to sin from within.  It is also suggested that he gave this dark advice to Balak.

It is an age-old question.  Which is more dangerous: Enemies from without, or corruption from within?  The Bible consistently takes the view that it is corruption from within which causes more harm to God's people.  The Lord is always able to take care of Israel's enemies, except when they are empowered by God because of Israel's sin.

So it is with the Midianite women of Numbers 25.  The Bible tells us that the men of Israel began having sexual relations with them, and quickly turned to worshiping their gods as well.  According to verse 3, this resulted in the spiritual "yoking" of Israel to the Baal of Peor.  It wasn't through might or war that Israel was led to stumble spiritually; it was by seducing them sexually.

God is so angered by the people's faithlessness that He issues a stunning order: "Take all the chiefs of the people, and impale them in the sun before the Lord, in order that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel" (vs. 4). Yikes!

Just then an Israelite named Zimri goes walking by the Tabernacle with his new Midianite girlfriend Cozbi.  Bad timing.  Phineas the priest is so enraged by what he sees that he grabs a spear and impales them both in their tent, through their belly.  (I'll leave it to your imagination as to how Phineas might have been able to spear them both at once!)

God commends Phineas for his devotion and zeal.  Nevertheless, 24,000 Israelites were killed by the plague for this transgression of idolatry with Midian.

Moses later lays the blame for this episode at the feet of Balaam.  In Numbers 31:16, we will read, "These women here, on Balaam's advice, made the Israelites act treacherously against the Lord in the affair of Peor, so that the plague came among the congregations of the Lord."  Revelation 2:14 corroborates this, telling us, "But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel, so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice fornication."

Balaam was crafty and realized the way to defeat Israel wasn't externally - but internally.  Could the same principle be true for Christians today?  Guard your hearts!

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