Zeal is defined as “great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.” (dictionary.com) We followers of Christ are to have zeal for the Lord. In Lancaster County, PA it is easy to say you are a Christian. The statement must be backed up with action, however. Anyone can have a bad day, but do I believe that a consistently unkind person is really a Christian? Is it hard to imagine that a person who doesn’t really care for children is a kingdom dweller. If a man who claims to be a Christian is driven to succeed and have more and more money to the detriment of his family, we might think he is not listening to the Lord at the very least. Not only are we to follow God, we are to be zealous for Him, protecting His name and bringing Him glory.
Moses gave much detail of the prophet Balaam in Numbers Chapters 22-24. He seemed pretty harmless and even spoke for the God of the Universe. However, the New Testament speaks of Balaam in very negative terms. Scholars assure us that the sin of Balaam is detailed in this chapter following his story. In the book of Revelation, God has messages to 7 churches. One of the churches He calls the seat of Satan. This church in Pergamum is being told that Satan lives in their city. The church in Pergamum had people attending who held to the teachings of Balaam, according to Revelation 2:14. Balaam is said in this verse to have, “taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.” Numbers 25 tell us that Israel is staying in Shittim and that the men are being sexually immoral with foreign women and beginning to worship their idol Baal.
Location, Location, Location
“It was great aggravation of the sin that Israel abode in Shittim, where they had the land of Canaan in view, and were just ready to enter and take possession of it. It was the highest degree of treachery and ingratitude to be false to their God, whom they had found so faithful to them, and to eat of idol-sacrifices when they were ready to be feasted so richly on God’s favours.” (Matthew Henry)
SO…WHAT WAS BALAAM’S SIN?
This foreign god was called the Baal of Peor. The foreign women were from Moab. Balak was the king of Moab (Numbers 22:4). When we look at the other Scriptures and this information, the inference we can take from reading Revelation and Numbers is that Balaam suggested to Balak that if he could lead Israel into sin, God would curse them Himself.
The Israelites in Numbers 25 are so close to the Promised Land and God has blessed them in all their desert wandering. Now they have exchanged the truth of God for the lie that Baal of Peor is a “better god.” God tells Moses to kill the leaders and expose them to the sun to turn away God’s anger (Numbers 25:4). Moses sends the message from God on to the judges of Israel. These were the men chosen to help Moses judge disputes so that he would not have to spend all day helping settle matters among the people. (Exodus 18)
The judges of Israel were to put to death those who had engaged in this idolatry in their tribes. Only this would stop the plague. Verse 6 tells us that Israel was assembled at the Tent of Meeting and they were weeping over the sin, over the judgment, perhaps even over the executions which may have begun. In the midst of the announcements and executions and weeping, in struts Zimri-a leader in the Simeonite clan- leading a Midianite chieftain’s daughter. They headed straight to a tent with obvious intentions.
As Zimri boldly strode through the mourning Israelites amid judgment, God had begun a plague among the idolaters. Phinehas, grandson of Aaron the priest, had godly discernment and a strong sense of justice. Phinehas saw Zimri’s disrespect, insubordination and superior attitude and went right after him. Phinehas strode right into the tent Zimri was in and speared him and the woman right through.
Over 24,000 people died in the plague God sent on idolaters. (Numbers 25:9) The number of casualties is “the highest ever suffered by the Israelites during their long and painful passage from Egypt to Canaan.” (NIV Application Commentary p. 719) Therefore, we can conclude that Balaam’s advice was successful and Balak was victorious against Israel via this insidious plan.
Phinehas was commended by the Lord, saved his people and received a covenant of peace from the Lord. His line would be a lasting priesthood and his legacy would be one of zeal, according to the word of the Lord. The Apostle Paul was very zealous for the Law. He learned that our zeal needs to be for the right thing. (Galatians 1:4)
We are to be zealous for the Lord. We are to stand for His honor. It is so difficult, especially when the one who is dishonoring the Lord is someone close to you or someone who is easily offended. However, pray for strength in the Lord to stand for Him. You will be standing in a long line of men and women commended by the Lord. You will be blessed.
If you ever looked back on a situation and realized you missed an opportunity to stand for God, do not despair. Learn from the experience and be prepared the next time. The best way to be ready to stand up for God is to be close to Him and knowledgeable in His Word. He will give you the strength and the wisdom to uphold God’s honor. Participating in this study shows your dedication to God and Scripture and prepares you to defend your Savior.
SELF CHECK
When have you fallen to a sin that was pleasurable? Are you still in it? Pray to God to give you strength to overcome this stronghold in your life. Think about why it is attractive to you. What truths does it reveal in your life? What does this stronghold reveal about how you see yourself and how you see God? Scripture is a powerful weapon. It can help us to overcome areas like this in our lives. Find a verse in God’s word that directly addresses the source of this sin and write it on a sticky note or notecard and say it when you feel tempted. Eventually you will have this verse memorized and God can bring it to mind correcting you when you are straying.
As an example of this process working, let me just share briefly one instance of how God worked with me to improve in a certain area. I can be quick to say something to my husband if he leaves something out of place or where it doesn’t belong, like a dirty sock on the floor or something on the kitchen counter or whatever I deem is out of place. If he is not around and I am tempted to leave the item out of place for him to deal with, the Scripture God brings to my mind is James 4:17: "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” I also remind myself that I can have a house that is perfectly in order if I want to be alone. I don’t want to be alone, so I try to shut my mouth and straighten up my home without complaint. That, my friends, is God's work in my life.
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