Numbers 25
Balaam's Scheme and Phinehas's Victory (Numbers 25:1-18)
Verse 26: “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been told you is true. But seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”
Numbers chapter 25 conceals the identity of the one who orchestrated the incident at Baal Peor. However, Numbers 31:16 and Revelation 2:14
reveal that Balaam was the one who planned all these events. In order to receive the enormous fee he had not received from Balak, Balaam,
along with the Midianite elders, informed King Balak of a plan to bring about Israel's downfall. This involved enticing the Israelites to worship
foreign gods and engage in immorality. By tempting the Israelites to participate in Baal worship, their plan succeeded, and the people of Israel
stumbled.
1. Balaam's Scheme After Parting Ways with Balak (Numbers 31:16)
1) Balaam was the diviner who could not curse Israel but only blessed them.
2) Balaam reconnected with the king of Moab through the Midianite priests and devised a scheme.
3) This scheme linked spiritual adultery with physical immorality for Israel.
4) God commanded the execution of the leaders of the people (Numbers 25:4).
2. Israel Succumbing to the Temptation of Balak and Midian
1) Israel, victorious after the battle of Hormah, also triumphed in wars against the Amorites and Bashan.
2) Due to this apostasy, many Israelites died from a plague (Numbers 25:1-5).
3) Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the high priest, was used mightily.
4) By killing these two people, the plague was stopped (Numbers 25:11).
3. Zimri's End and Phinehas Receiving a Great Reward
1) Zimri took Cozbi, a Midianite woman, into his tent and committed an immoral act.
2) He met a tragic end, being impaled with the foreign woman.
3) Phinehas's zeal against evil atoned for the Israelites.
4) Phinehas succeeded Eleazar as high priest.
Conclusion: The Outcome for Those Used to Oppose God
1) Israel, caught in the celebratory atmosphere of victory, became complacent.
2) This incident later became the backdrop for God's judgment against Midian.
3) Indeed, this incident was a result of Balaam's counsel (Revelation 2:14; Numbers 31:8, 16).
4) Immediately after the Cozbi incident, God commanded Moses to conquer Midian.
For the second generation of Israelites, born in the wilderness and never having settled, lingering in a state of abundance after victory would
have caused them to let down their guard. The devil, who used Balak, king of Moab, and the false prophet Balaam, did not miss that moment.
Staying in Shittim, when they should have been preparing to enter the land of Canaan, Israel was blinded by carnal desires, committing immorality
and idolatry. What they most needed was to lift the eyes of faith and look upon and prepare for the land granted for world evangelization.
How is our life today?
What are we holding onto: the 3 todays or worldly wealth and comfort?
Today, we too have been appointed as soldiers of Christ.
I bless you to hold fast to the 3 todays and triumph.