CONSIDERING PHINEAS NUMBERS 25

Let's think about the story of Phineas. Is there any need for
Phineases today?
The setting--think of the Camp of the saints. Are not our leaders
crying that some are bowing to Baalpoer? Note the judgement of the
Lord on the matter.

1And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom
with the daughters of Moab. 2And they called the people unto the
sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to
their gods. 3And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor:and the anger of
the LORD was kindled against Israel.

If it were not for Christ this would be all our fates:

4And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and
hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of
the LORD may be turned away from Israel. 5And Moses said unto the
judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto
Baalpeor.

Note the boldness in the face of judgement on sin:

6And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his
brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight
of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping
before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

What do you think motived this scene, these actions?

7And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest,
saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in
his hand; 8And 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 belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. 9And
those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.

We now alot of stories in the Old Testament point to the Coming of
Christ's redemption of mankind, I believe the same applies to the
following verses. I still admire the courage, zeal and fear of God
that stirred the righteous indignation of Phineas into action. It is
true we live in the New Testament and I am not implying at all to
promote any kind of honor killings, but rather these verses show God as a jealous
God. He holds His children to His bosom and yet they squirm away to
serve other Gods. Since he is a God of righteous judgement he must
apply justice. For without justice there would be no need for mercy.
Phineas steps up to the plate and calls sin sin. The righteous are
grieving around the tabernacle and Phineas can take it no longer, when
he sees yet another bold faced sin to be committed in the Camp after God has placed judgement What is the

equivalent in our age? in our Church?

10And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 11Phinehas, the son of
Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from
the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them,
that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. 12Wherefore
say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: 13And he shall have
it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting
priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement
for the children of Israel.

Now the thought is this. We have been told and we see the fruits. To
mix with the Spirit of the World, the lust of the eyes, the lust of
the flesh, and the pride of life is to commit spiritual fornication
with the world. When our young people flaunt the fasions of the world,
it is a open courtship. Judgement has been recognized--- that we need to
repent and remove ourselves from whoring with the world. You commit whoring with the world
by sacrificing your family for the love of gain, killing your
brothers( by talking behind their backs and despiesing them) ,
indulging yourself in the pursuit of comfort and pleasure....the list
can go on. Today from listening to our sermons we hear from over the pulpit,
we are to gather around the tabernacle in a Spirit of Repentance. Are
we there? Do we need to purge ourselves of those things in our lives that
we know we need to deal with. Are we to tolerate open whoredoms that
we see in our midst? I am not promoting a panic frenzy or zeal for
blood. There needs to be more stepping up to the plate and firmly stand
behind the judgements of the Lord against whatever Baalpoer is
polluting in your camp. The man slain was a son of one of the princes of
Simon. Someone of influence. We must be willing to reprove anyone
regardless of their worldly standing. If we are of the Lord, we will and
can not hardly stop from weeping at the tabernacle until something is
done or the plague of the Lord begins its purge............