CLASSIC DEVOTIONALS: "Love Me More" -God Calling

GOD CALLING

Our Lord and our God. Help us through poverty to plenty. Through unrest to rest, through sorrow to Joy, through weakness to Power.

I am your Helper. At the end of your present path lie all these blessings. So trust and know that I am leading you.

Step with a firm step of confidence in Me into each unknown day. Take every duty and every interruption as of My appointment.

You are My servant. Serve Me as simply, cheerfully, and readily as you expect others to serve you.

Do you blame the servant who avoids extra work, who complains about being called from one task to do one less liked? Do you feel you are ill served by such a one?

Then what of Me? Is not that how you so often serve Me? Think of this. Lay it to heart and view your day's work in this light.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, ... he shall teach you all things, and bring
all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  John 14:26

CLASSIC DEVOTIONALS: "Imitation of Christ" -Thomas a Kempis

The Imitation of Christ

OF THINKING HUMBLY OF ONESELF

There is naturally in every man a desire to know, but what profiteth knowledge without the fear of God? 

Better of a surety is a lowly peasant who serveth God, than a proud philosopher who watcheth the stars and neglecteth the knowledge of himself. He who knoweth himself well is vile in his own sight; neither regardeth he the praises of men. If I knew all the things that are in the world, and were not in charity, what should it help me before God, who is to judge me according to my deeds?

2. Rest from inordinate desire of knowledge, for therein is found much distraction and deceit. Those who have knowledge desire to appear learned, and to be called wise. Many things there are to know which profiteth little or nothing to the soul. And foolish out of measure is he who attendeth upon other things rather than those which serve to his soul's health. Many words satisfy not the soul, but a good life refresheth the mind, and a pure conscience giveth great confidence towards God.

3. The greater and more complete thy knowledge, the more severely shalt thou be judged, unless thou hast lived holily. Therefore be not lifted up by any skill or knowledge that thou hast; but rather fear concerning the knowledge which is given to thee. 

If it seemeth to thee that thou knowest many things, and understandest them well, know also that there are many more things which thou knowest not. 

Be not high-minded, but rather confess thine ignorance. Why desirest thou to lift thyself above another, when there are found many more learned and more skilled in the Scripture than thou? If thou wilt know and learn anything with profit, love to be thyself unknown and to be counted for nothing.

4. That is the highest and most profitable lesson, when a man truly knoweth and judgeth lowly of himself. To account nothing of one's self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom.

 Even shouldest thou see thy neighbor sin openly or grievously, yet thou oughtest not to reckon thyself better than he, for thou knowest not how long thou shalt keep thine integrity. All of us are weak and frail; hold thou no man more frail than thyself.

CLASSIC DEVOTIONALS: "Morning & Evening" -C.H. Spurgeon

Morning

"Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant?"

Numbers 11:11

Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to try our faith. If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. Gilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not: the paste gem dreads to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test.

 It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but that is true faith which holds by the Lord's faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father's countenance is hidden.

 A faith which can say, in the direst trouble, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him," is heaven-born faith. The Lord afflicts his servants to glorify himself, for he is greatly glorified in the graces of his people, which are his own handiwork. 

When "tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope," the Lord is honoured by these growing virtues. We should never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched; nor enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in the winepress; nor discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten; nor feel the warmth of fire if the coals were not utterly consumed. 

The wisdom and power of the great Workman are discovered by the trials through which his vessels of mercy are permitted to pass. Present afflictions tend also to heighten future joy. 

There must be shades in the picture to bring out the beauty of the lights. Could we be so supremely blessed in heaven, if we had not known the curse of sin and the sorrow of earth? Will not peace be sweeter after conflict, and rest more welcome after toil? Will not the recollection of past sufferings enhance the bliss of the glorified? 

There are many other comfortable answers to the question with which we opened our brief meditation, let us muse upon it all day long.

Evening

"Now on whom dost thou trust?"

Isaiah 36:5

Reader, this is an important question. 

Listen to the Christian's answer, and see if it is yours. "On whom dost thou trust?" "I trust," says the Christian, "in a triune God. I trust the Father, believing that he has chosen me from before the foundations of the world; I trust him to provide for me in providence, to teach me, to guide me, to correct me if need be, and to bring me home to his own house where the many mansions are.

 I trust the Son. Very God of very God is he--the man Christ Jesus. 

I trust in him to take away all my sins by his own sacrifice, and to adorn me with his perfect righteousness. I trust him to be my Intercessor, to present my prayers and desires before his Father's throne, and I trust him to be my Advocate at the last great day, to plead my cause, and to justify me. 

I trust him for what he is, for what he has done, and for what he has promised yet to do. And I trust the Holy Spirit--he has begun to save me from my inbred sins; I trust him to drive them all out; I trust him to curb my temper, to subdue my will, to enlighten my understanding, to check my passions, to comfort my despondency, to help my weakness, to illuminate my darkness;

 I trust him to dwell in me as my life, to reign in me as my King, to sanctify me wholly, spirit, soul, and body, and then to take me up to dwell with the saints in light forever."

Oh, blessed trust! To trust him whose power will never be exhausted, whose love will never wane, whose kindness will never change, whose faithfulness will never fail, whose wisdom will never be nonplussed, and whose perfect goodness can never know a diminution! 

Happy art thou, reader, if this trust is thine! So trusting, thou shalt enjoy sweet peace now, and glory hereafter, and the foundation of thy trust shall never be removed.

CLASSIC DEVOTIONALS: "The whole family in heaven and earth." - Daily Light

MORNING

The whole family in heaven and earth.

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. - Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. - That in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.

He is not ashamed to call them brethren. - Behold my mother and my brethren! Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. - Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father.

I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: ... and white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. - That they without us should not be made perfect.

EPH. 3:15. Eph. 4:6. -Gal. 3:26. -Eph. 1:10. Heb. 2:11. Matt. 12:49,50. John 20:17. Rev. 6:9 11. Heb. 11:40.

EVENING

After this manner ... pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven.

Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father. - My Father, and your Father.

Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. - Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

MATT. 6:9. John 17:1. -John 20:17. Gal. 3:26. Rom. 8:15,16. Gal. 4:6,7. John 16:23,24. II Cor. 6:17,18.

CLASSIC DEVOTIONALS: "The Exegesis of God" -A.W.Tozer

TOZER DEVOTIONAL

The Exegesis of God

I wish I could comprehend everything that the inspired Word is trying to reveal in the statement that Jesus, the eternal Son, is the "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" (Hebrews 1:3). This much I do know and understand: Jesus Christ is Himself God. As a believer and a disciple, I rejoice that the risen, ascended Christ is now my High Priest and intercessor at the heavenly throne.

The writer to the Hebrews commands our attention with this descriptive, striking language:

In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, . . . [who is] the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word (Hebrews 1:2–3).

We trust the Scriptures because we believe they are inspired—God-breathed. Because we believe them, we believe and confess that Jesus was very God of very God.

Nothing anywhere in this vast, complex world is as beautiful and as compelling as the record of the Incarnation, the act by which God was made flesh to dwell among us in our own human history. This Jesus, the Christ of God, who made the universe and who sustains all things by his powerful word, was a tiny babe among us. He was comforted to sleep when He whimpered in His mother’s arms. Great, indeed, is the mystery of godliness.

Yet, in this context, some things strange and tragic have been happening in recent years within Christianity. For one, some ministers have advised their congregations not to be greatly concerned if theologians dispute the virgin birth of Jesus. The issue, they say, is not important. For another thing, some professing Christians are saying they do not want to be pinned down as to what they really believe about the uniqueness and reality of the deity of Jesus, the Christ.

Verse

No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. John 1:18

Thought

Jesus Christ is Himself God. He is the One and Only at the Father's side; the radiance of His glory; the exact representation of God being. He has made God known. Christ is the exegesis of God.

Prayer

Miracle of miracles! You, O Christ, that baby in Mary's arms are both God and human being. You make God accessible to me.

CLASSIC DEVOTIONALS: "Whereby Shall I Know?" -My Utmost for His Highest

Whereby Shall I Know?

10

10

2013

I thank Thee, 0 Father . . . because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. — Matthew 11:25

In spiritual relationship we do not grow step by step; we are either there or we are not. God does not cleanse us more and more from sin, but when we are in the light, walking in the light, we are cleansed from all sin. 

It is a question of obedience, and instantly the relationship is perfected. Turn away for one second out of obedience, and darkness and death are at work at once.

All God’s revelations are sealed until they are opened to us by obedience. You will never get them open by philosophy or thinking. Immediately you obey, a flash of light comes. 

Let God’s truth work in you by soaking in it, not by worrying into it. The only way you can get to know is to stop trying to find out and by being born again. 

Obey God in the thing He shows you, and instantly the next thing is opened up. One reads tomes on the work of the Holy Spirit, when one five minutes of drastic obedience would make things as clear as a sunbeam. "I suppose I shall understand these things some day!" You can understand them now. 

It is not study that does it, but obedience. The tiniest fragment of obedience, and heaven opens and the profoundest truths of God are yours straight away. God will never reveal more truth about Himself until you have obeyed what you know already. Beware of becoming "wise and prudent."

DAILY DEVOTIONS: "What Church Is All About" -WordDevo

DAILY DEVOTIONS

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CHURCH IS WHERE YOU PRACTICE

Not what you live.

Sometimes people get the backwards

They think Ministry is For Church

And Life is for Living.........

WRONG

Church is where you practice your ministry;

Because 

LIFE IS YOUR MINISTRY

You are a Living Witness

Not a Religious Relic

Your Home, Your Job, Your Family

Your Wife, Your Husband, Your Neighbor

The people who know you,

the people who don't.....

THOSE ARE YOUR MINISTRY

You are a God's Son

You are God's Daughter

Church is there to remind you of that

and let you practice becoming it so you can live it.

Don't become Churchly and think you've arrived

Be Godly and then you will have arrived

At What Church Is All About.

DAILY DEVOTIONS: "Look Up" -David McGee

DAILY DEVOTIONS

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Look Up

Luke 21:28

"Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
NKJV

Each week our world seems to brace for a new disaster. Whether it's an earthquake, hurricane or economic collapse, we experience regularly the evidence of this fallen world. To the unbeliever, these events bring uncertainty and fear. After all, if this world is all there is and it's clearly unpredictable and broken, how can they know what to do? Yet, to a follower of Christ, we look at these things from a different perspective... a biblical perspective.

Jesus told us that we would have tribulations. The Bible is very clear that because of sin, this world has been corrupted and therefore, we will experience its effects. But that is not the final word. Yes, this world is broken. Yes, we have natural disasters and horrific events like we witnessed on 9-11. Yes, these things will increase as we get closer to the end. BUT, it will end.

When we see these things happen, look up. When you witness the suffering around the world, look up. When you experience the loss of a loved one, look up. When you see people and governments turning against God, look up, because your redemption is near. In the end, Jesus will stop it all. He will make all things right and heal this broken world. Until then, we look up and proclaim to this broken and beat up world the peace they can find in Jesus. Sin caused these problems. Jesus will solve them.

Life Lesson: No matter what the future holds, we can know WHO holds the future.

Dear God, Thank You for Your grace on my life and the peace I can have through Jesus. Father, help me to trust You in every situation, no matter how hard it may be. Each time I see or experience the pain of this broken world, help me to look up and be reminded of Your return. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

DAILY DEVOTIONS: "Strategic Prayer" -Bob Coy

DAILY DEVOTIONS

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STRATEGIC PRAYER

Jesus replied, "You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind." Matthew 22:37 (NLT)

We've seen that true prayer is a heart-cry and not an intellectual exercise. But that doesn't mean we can't use our heads when it comes to prayer. In fact, we're called to love and honor God with all that He's given us, including our minds.

One way of doing this is by taking a strategic approach to our prayers, by breaking them down into different categories so we can get a better grasp on things. There are basically four different types of prayers, and we can easily remember them by remembering the acronym A.C.T.S.

"A" stands for adoration. This is the type of prayer where we express our understanding of how remarkable and magnificent God is. We could actually pray like this forever since God's majesty is endless.

"C" stands for contrition. When we offer a prayer of contrition, our hearts are humbled before God as we acknowledge and confess our sinfulness to Him. This is where we find cleansing and restoration for our souls.

"T" stands for thanksgiving. This type of prayer is pretty self-explanatory. It's when we deliberately thank the Lord for accomplishing something or providing something in our lives or in the lives of others.

"S" stands for supplication. Supplication is when we approach God, asking that He act on our behalf. We also offer supplication when we ask God to move in the lives of others.

We should also take note that these are set in a healthy order. When we start from the point of acknowledging God for who He is, it humbles us to acknowledge who we are, which naturally leads us to a place of gratitude. At that point, our requests will have been filtered through a greater understanding of His heart.
What does it mean to love God with all your mind? How does prayer affect your mind and thoughts? How can you put into practice ?A.C.T.S.??the four mentioned areas of prayer?

DAILY DEVOTIONS: "Design And Determinism ( Psalm 139:1-18 )" -Ray Steadman

DAILY DEVOTIONS

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Design And Determinism  ( Psalm 139:1-18 )

Read the Scripture: Psalm 139:1-18

Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:16).

The phrase unformed body literally in Hebrew is my rolled-up substance. It paints a picture of the embryo, all rolled up. People are asking questions today about when life begins. When does an embryo become a human being? The answer of the psalmist is, Thy eyes beheld me--not an impersonal collection of cells that wasn't me yet--in my rolled-up embryonic state. The marvel of the human body, even at that stage of growth, has convinced him that God is with him and knows him immediately.

Some will remember the Alger Hiss case quite a number of years ago. Alger Hiss was accused of communist conspiracy while he was a functionary of the government. A primary participant in that case was a man named Whittaker Chambers, also a member of the Communist Party and a contact of Alger Hiss. Whittaker Chambers later wrote a book in which he told how he became a Christian. One day when he was sitting with his little two-year-old daughter on his lap, his eye fell on her ear, and it caught his attention. He was struck by the design of that ear. How beautiful, how shell-like it was, and how perfectly designed to catch every sound wave in the air to be translated into sound by the brain. Knowing something of the mechanics of the ear, he began to think about it. He was struck by how impossible it is that anything so intricate, so complex, so beautifully designed could ever occur by chance. That led him to other lines of thought, and eventually he investigated the Christian position and became a Christian. The argument from design is a great argument, and it is what the psalmist uses here.

He is not only impressed by the argument from design but by the evidence of determinism. Evidently he had an experience similar to many of us--there came certain days in his life during which so many unrelated factors suddenly fell together to produce a circumstance or an experience that he could not help but be aware that something was causing it to happen, that it was all being brought about by a mind greater than his own.

We have all had something happen suddenly, something that we did not plan or expect. It was made up of so many varied factors that all of a sudden fit together, dovetailing beautifully, that we became aware that Someone else was planning our days and yet allowing us free will in the experience of them. That was what struck this psalmist. It was the fact that, even before these days occurred, they were written in the book of God--they were planned for him.

Lord, no one knows me like You. You knew me before I was born, and You knew what each day of my life would hold. I praise You and thank You for Your intimate knowledge of me.

Life Application: Have we deeply contemplated the organized design we see in creation? What about the pieces of our lives that seem to assemble as though in a master plan?

We hope you were blessed by this daily devotion.

DAILY DEVOTIONS: "HOW TO LOSE THE BLESSING OF GOD" -Bob Caldwell

HOW TO LOSE THE BLESSING OF GOD

READING FROM: 

 Numbers 24:15-25:18

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KEY VERSE:

“Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab.” –Numbers 25:1

Balaam is one of the most mysterious figures in the Bible. God spoke through him, yet Balaam also used sorcery to try to bring spiritual influence upon others.  New Testament writers declared him to be driven by greed, the “wages of unrighteousness” (2 Peter 2:15). We also know from Numbers 31:15-16 that Balaam counseled the women of Moab to seduce the Israelite men into the sexual immorality that is referred to here in Chapter 25. The Moabite king offered Balaam a great sum of money to bring a cultic curse upon the Israelites. But Balaam had no power to override God’s protection of Israel. Therefore, since he could not overcome the blessing of God upon Israel with his own curse, he proposed the one thing he knew could bring a divine curse. If Balaam induced Israel to sin against God, God Himself could bring a curse upon His own people. The grove referred to in 25:1 near the encampment of the Jews would have been the area used in Moabite fertility rites. History tells us pagan nations, like Moab, commonly worshipped the gods and goddesses of fertility with sexual acts.

This combination of idolatry and sexual sin removed God’s blessing and replaced it with judgment. Balaam accomplished this by “counseling” (31:15-16) the women of Moab to draw the Israelite men into this trap.

The lesson is one we all must have written upon our hearts. Satan cannot bring a curse upon us. He cannot override the blessings God has ordained. But he can certainly tempt us to fall into a place where our own willful rebellion and sin against God causes Him to remove His hand of blessing and change it into a hand of chastisement.

Be careful! This one strategy has enabled Satan to bring ruin upon God’s people more times than can be counted. Satan doesn’t care what he must use. He simply watches us, discovers our most vulnerable area, and then dangles the carrot in front of us. Therefore, heed Jesus’ warning  to “watch and pray,” lest you fall into temptation. Take the time to look at who’s really pulling the strings of things that seem so enticing, so necessary. From money to pride, sex to bitterness, he doesn’t care! Therefore, watch and pray!

BIBLE READING

NUMBERS 24:15-25:18 BALAAM’S FOURTH PROPHECY 15 So he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor,And the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened;16 The utterance of him who hears the words of God,And has the knowledge of the Most High,Who sees the vision of the Almighty,Who falls down, with eyes wide open: 17 “I see Him, but not now;I behold Him, but not near;A Star shall come out of Jacob;A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,And batter the brow of Moab,And destroy all the sons of tumult. 18 “And Edom shall be a possession;Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession,While Israel does valiantly.19 Out of Jacob One shall have dominion,And destroy the remains of the city.” 20 Then he looked on Amalek, and he took up his oracle and said: “Amalek was first among the nations,But shall be last until he perishes.” 21 Then he looked on the Kenites, and he took up his oracle and said: “Firm is your dwelling place,And your nest is set in the rock;22 Nevertheless Kain shall be burned.How long until Asshur carries you away captive?” 23 Then he took up his oracle and said: “Alas! Who shall live when God does this?24 But ships shall come from the coasts of Cyprus,And they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber,And so shall Amalek, until he perishes.” 25 So Balaam rose and departed and returned to his place; Balak also went his way. NUMBERS 25 ISRAEL’S HARLOTRY IN MOAB 1 Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. 2 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel. 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the Lord, out in the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.” 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal of Peor.” 6 And indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 7 Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel. 9 And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand. 10 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 11 “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal. 12 Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; 13 and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.’” 14 Now the name of the Israelite who was killed, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, a leader of a father’s house among the Simeonites. 15 And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a father’s house in Midian. 16 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 17 “Harass the Midianites, and attack them; 18 for they harassed you with their schemes by which they seduced you in the matter of Peor and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a leader of Midian, their sister, who was killed in the day of the plague because of Peor.”

VERSE-BY-VERSE STUDY NOTES

NUMBERS 24

BALAM'S FOURTH PROPHECY (VERSES 15-25)

v. 17 A Star Shall Come Out of Jacob;a Scepter Shall Rise Out of Israel - This is a remarkable Messianic prophecy. A “star” is symbolic of a prince or messiah. A “scepter” is an allusion to a king.

v. 18 Edom - The Edomites were the descendants of Esau. The land of Edom was south-east of the Promised Land. This was a prophecy that Israel will some day dominate Edom as well, which was fulfilled in part when the Edomites became servants of David (2 Sam. 8:14).

Seir - These were the inhabitants of Edom before the descendants of Esau, the Edomites. Seir was poetically used for Edom.

v. 20 Amalek was First Among the Nations - Balaam considered Amalek the most ancient and one of the most powerful nations at the time.

v. 21 Kenites - MosesÕs father-in-law was from these ancient people. They dwelled in the area between southern Palestine and the mountains of Sinai.

v. 22 Kain - Another term to define the Kenites of verse 21.

Asshur - The Assyrians.

v. 24 The Coasts of Cyprus - This prophecy encompasses all the countries of on the western Mediterranean coast.

Until He Perishes - This is a picture of a series of conquests through the rise and fall of various nations.

NUMBERS 25

ISRAEL'S HARLOTRY IN MOAB (VERSES 1-18)

v. 1 Acacia Grove - This was Israel’s last campground and staging area before they crossed the Jordan River to the west and began their conquest of the Promised Land. The ancient city Jericho was west of this region across the Jordan River.

Harlotry - We later discover that the reason the men of Israel fell into sexual sin with the women of Moab was because King Balak took the advice of Balaam and set a snare for them (Num. 31:15, 16; 2 Pet. 2:15, 16; and Rev. 2:14).

v. 2 Invited the People - The women of Moab tempted the men of Israel in more than just sexual enticement. As one sin can easily lead to another, the Moabite women took advantage of the Israelite men who were already morally weakened by sexual sin and lured them into spiritual unfaithfulness and sacrifices to their Moabite fertility gods through union with their temple prostitutes.

v. 3 Baal of Peor - Peor was a very high mountain in Moab, which overlooked the wasteland. Peor means cleft. This mountain was named for the great gap or opening found in its face. The idol Baal was worshipped there.

v. 4 Hang the Offenders - This was done in broad daylight for two reasons: to appease the anger of the Lord, and so that those left alive might fear the consequences of sin.

v. 5 Who Were Joined to Baal of Peor - This was in obedience to the Law of God delivered to Moses (Ex. 22:20; Deut. 13:6, 9).

v. 6 A Midianite Woman - A member of the tribe of Midian; it was forbidden for Israelites to intermarry with them (Ex. 34:15, 16; Deut. 7:3).

v. 8 The Plague was Stopped - God sent a plague as punishment for the sins of the Israelite men who had committed harlotry and idolatry. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, the original High Priest, understood that this sin must be dealt with swiftly and mercilessly for the sake of the rest of the people. Once this sin was dealt with, the punishment ended (v. 11).

v. 12 My Covenant of Peace - Phinehas’ zealous act against sin was rewarded by God with a promise of continuing priesthood in his family line. Ancient Israel had no police as we do today. Therefore the priests of the Lord rightfully assumed responsibility to execute judgment on behalf of God. Today, God commands individual believers not to take vengeance but to depend upon the established authority of government (Rom. 12:17-13:7).

v. 13 An Everlasting Priesthood - This promise to Phinehas would continue until the end of the Jewish state. Later in Israel’s history when they fell into deep apostasy, God chastened them by sending them into captivity by their enemies. At this time, although the “office” of the priesthood remained, the entire system of priestly ministry and the sacrificial system were forced to halt by their captors.

Made Atonement - Phinehas appeased the anger of God and covered the sin of Israel. God’s anger is far different than man’s anger. God’s “righteous” anger is directed to the wicked (Prov. 15:18, 16:32; Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8; Ps. 7:11; Is. 13:9; Nahum 1:3; and Rom. 1:18, 2:8) It is never misdirected or out of control (Eph. 5:6, Col. 3:6). God always requires blood atonement for sin (Ex. 30:10; Lev. 16:27, 17:11; Heb. 9:22).

v. 17 harass the Midianites - The Midianites were to be rightly punished for leading God’s people into sin.