38: Baal Peor: Idolatry destroys Israel (Num 25:1 – 18)

Balak and Balaam tried hard to curse Israel, but the Lord blessed Israel. Right after such protection of God, Israel committed idolatry. 

πŸ‘‰ Read Numbers 25:1-18

What caused the Lord’s anger to flare up against Israel?

 

When does the Lord’s anger turn away from Israel? (4-5, 8)

 

Why did the Lord promise the covenant of peace for Penihas? (11)

 

The Lord said to Moses, “Bring trouble to the Medianites, because they have brought trouble to you by (            ) in the mattter of (          ) and in the matter of the daughter of a (           ) of Median.”

 

Answers and Meditations

Then Israel joined themselves to Baal Peor

Joined: attached to, devoted to, bound by the yoke of, slaved.

Even though you make mistakes and fall, the Lord still shows His smiling face. However, when our heart turns towards idolatry on purpose, it rages God’s wrath.


When they get rid of those who committed idolatry.

 

He acted in the zeal for the Lord.

Is it ironic that Phinehas was given the covenant of peace (Shalom) by killing two people? His decisive action let the Lord's anger subside and brought the Lord’s peace again for His people. Otherwise, the whole congregation would die in the plague.

God promised the permanent priesthood for Phinehas and his descendants because Phinehas had a zeal for God. If your heart for the Lord doesn't change, His shalom will be in your life regardless of your failure.

 

treachery, Baal-Peor, leader

How did the Midianites deceive Israel? They must have told Israel that they should serve Baal Peor to get blessings. Also, when the plague started in the camp, the Medianite leader might have deceived the Israelite leaders that they could stop the plague by the power of Baal Peor, whom they could please through sexual practice. In their worldview, when you visit any place, you need to serve the local god of that place to avoid any trouble in that area.

Baal Peor means ‘Lord of Peor.’ The deity in the place, Peor, was the god of fertility and notorious for the immoral practices of its worshippers. 


We don’t need to look for the ways of blessing and success. Just be careful not to sin and follow the Lord. Then, the Lord’s Shalom will be with us. 


PS. I couldn't find a satisfactory explanation for why the Lord wanted to attack the Midianites alone, not the Moabites. 

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