The Israelites commit sexual immorality with the Midianite women. Numbers Ch 25.

Truth In Scripture Pastor Rick Kabrick Thursday, January 23, 2025 Numbers Part 25 Chapter 25. The Israelites commit sexual immorality with the Midianite women. Numbers Ch 25.
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Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the High Priest, was so enraged by the man’s disrespect and evil rebellion that he took a spear and went to the man’s tent and killed both the man and the woman by piercing them both through with one spear with one strike.
By tradition Phineas peenhas was a gate keeper. Remember when we looked at the roles of the Levites around the tabernacle? These Levites took the offerings and guarded the tabernacle. In many ways peenhas does represent a gatekeeper of the things of the LORD. He protected the Tabernacle.
Even while GOD was telling of the blessings Israel will have on that heights of Peor, below on the plains of Moab, Israel was showing its weak and sinful character.GOD’s blessing is always because of HIS grace, not because of HIS people’s merit.
The difference between the first census, at the beginning of the wilderness wanderings and the last census in Ch 26 nearly 40 years later. After all the deaths and births. Here is the numbers of those 20 years old or more.
The Moabites invited the Israelites to their sacrifices. The Moabite women were seducing the Israelite men and we can imagine that the men were not putting up much of a struggle. Remember the Midianites were allis in this as well.
We are to worship no other god but the One True GOD, so justifiably, understandably the LORD GOD became very angry. As such our LORD GOD will NOT settle for anything less than exclusive worship for HIM and faith in HIM.We belong to HIM, and HE cannot let sin go unpunished, so HE, the LORD GOD, orders Moses to sentence these men to the death penalty.
But the point is that the leaders, the elders had to be aware of it, not saying they were involved, they may have been. In any event the punishment was upon the people as a whole. What the LORD was waiting for was someone to stand against the sinful actions, to make a stand, HE was waiting for a Phineas.
While the people were gathered near the tabernacle, an Israelite man had the audacity to parade a Midianite woman right past them and into his tent. Phineas, the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, who was part of the priesthood, was so outraged at the man’s blatant disrespect for the LORD GOD, that he responds.
The gods of the pagans were often fertility gods, the worship often involved sexual acts of all kinds. Israel joined, became followers of Baal of Peor.
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.
1 COR10:8-13, We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. GOD is faithful; HE will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, HE will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
Sexual temptation is ever present in modern societies, and the idols of money, pleasure, fame, etc is always present to take on away from the Tue GOD.Even today, Christians must guard against the sin of Baal Peor.
The best way to take the text here is that the Israelites went to the sacrificial rites and then partook of meat that had been offered to the Moabite gods, and then bowed themselves down to these gods (i.e., worshiped them). This in addition to committing these immoral sexual acts.
The Moabites and Midianites were a mixed population in this territory at that time, so we might safely say that when we read Moabite women, that certain Midianites women were also included. We know that from the next verse.
The scene shifts abruptly to the area around the door of the tent of meeting, where Moses and the congregation were weeping. While the people are weeping because of the decree issued by the LORD, an Israelite man brought a Midianite woman to his brothers. A priest, Phineas saw this and became outraged and rightly so. This act was one of total rebellion and evil.