Numbers Chapter 25
It seems as if the events of chapter 25 follow the events of chapter 24 just to prove the point that the goodness and blessings placed upon Israel had nothing at all to do with the people of Israel. The blessings on Israel were there because God made a covenant with Abraham and He chose to bless the nation. But like our current generation they ignored the Word of the LORD and ignored His blessings and corrupted themselves with the worship of another god.
I would like to present that the god Baal was not just some idol on a shelf that people worshipped but was in fact satanic worship.
Psalms 106:24-31 Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise. 25 They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD. 26 Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall in the wilderness, 27 and would make their offspring fall among the nations, scattering them among the lands. 28 Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; 29 they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them. 30 Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed. 31 And that was counted to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever.
Let's Reflect
1. What was the catalyst at the town of Shittim that opened the gate to the people of Israel worshipping Baal?
2. God gave Moses a specific instruction to kindle or stop his anger against the whole nation of Israel. What did Moses then instruct the judges of the tribes of Israel to do?
3. The women of Moab were also known as Midianites since they were a nomadic group within the Moabites. These women acted as prostitutes, and they enticed the men of Israel to follow their sexual lusts and to take part in the perverse worship of their gods. The Israelites were definitely breaking the covenant of God. What term is used in verse 5 to describe how steeped in this horrible sin the Israelites were?
4. Balaam was not able to produce a curse upon these people but by their own lustful sins they brought upon themselves the anger of the LORD. How many of Israel died because of their involvement with Baal?
5. Then to further mock God, an Israelite man and a Midianite woman came to the tabernacle while the people were still grieving the deaths of so many. This couple were most likely engaging in sex right within the tabernacle. What did the priest Phinehas (grandson of Aaron) do to protect the tabernacle?
6. The Bible makes a point of naming who this Midianite woman was. It seems she was someone who was well known because of who her father was. She was perhaps a priestess of the occult. The Israelite man was someone who also was the son of a leader. What tribe did this man belong to? What was his father’s name?
7. Then God gave an order to Moses regarding the people of the Midianites. What was the order?
