Balaam came up with another ploy to defeat Israel (Num 31:8,16). He sent the Moabite women to seduce the men of Israel to join Baal worship in which the sexual rites took place. Israel fell not by black magic, but by their own fleshly desires. Then God sent a plague and 24,000 Israelites died. While the plague was ravaging them, an Israelite brought a Midianite woman into his tent. It shows how far Israel fell. They brought the idolatry back into Israel's camp. They sinned openly without guilt and shame. Phinehas, in his jealousy for God's honor, grabbed a spear and killed both of them. Phinehas' zeal turned God's anger away from Israel. God stopped the plague and made a covenant with Phinehas and his descendants.

Sin dishonors God and calls for his wrath. Phinehas diverted God's wrath away by punishing sin. He made atonement for his people (13b). Jesus was zealous for God's honor and diverted God's wrath from us. He did not use the spear to kill sinners but took the punishment on himself on the cross. Thank you Jesus. The devil knows that he cannot turn God's heart away from his people. So he tries to tempt his people through the weakness of their flesh and to turn their hearts away from God. Spiritual leaders are to be zealous for God's honor and so put sin to death and protect his people.


Application: Lord, clothe me with zeal for your honor and keep God's people from Satan's attack.
One Word: Zeal for the Lord