Old School STD's
Numbers 25
So the Israelite men became intrigued with women from another nation- particularly the Moabite women. And they acted on this interest. It seems that Shittim (their current campgrounds) became a hotbed of hanky panky and consequently of Baal worship. As you might expect, God was none too pleased.
So God tells Moses, go kill all the leaders in the light of day. No sneak attack, no drive-by shooting- make sure everyone knows these deaths are My punishment.
If there was ever a time for a leader to delegate responsibility, this was it- so Moses tells Israel judges to go ahead and kill all of their people who have Marvin Gaye playing in their tents.
One particularly brash Israelite named Zimri flaunted his dalliances. He brought a girl named Kozbi into the tent of "meeting" (it was probably that brazen Lisa Bonet). This Kozbi kid was also the daughter of a Midianite tribal chief. Aaron's grandson Phinehas would have none of it. He grabbed his spear, followed them into the tent, and drove the spear through both of them which is pretty impressive both strength-wise and geometrically. This apparently satisfied God and the plague stopped.
But not before 24,000 people died.
God says two things. First- he praises the zeal of Phinehas. He gives him credit for turning away His anger. And as a result God sets up a covenant with him and his offspring. They will have a lasting priesthood. I'm not really sure how this is different than what is already established since he's Aaron's grandson. Wouldn't he already be part of this priesthood? I would think that this would be part of the compulsion to cleanse the tent of meeting.
Second- He refers to the Kozbi incident as deception on the part of the Midianites. They are to treat the Midianites as enemies.
So, were the Moabite flirtations a ploy to separate Israel from God and weaken their strength? Was the religious orgy simply a military strategy? Is that why God reacts with such venom? God still showcases His power- but it certainly does reduce the number of men in the camp.
Stories like these are hard for me to make much sense of in our context. How do you reconcile a God who kills 24,000 of His own people with the God we see through Jesus' message of love and grace?
One thing is clear. God takes idolatry and sexual sin seriously. And that even those people who saw His power so directly weren't immune to the charms of such sin.
Numbers 25
So the Israelite men became intrigued with women from another nation- particularly the Moabite women. And they acted on this interest. It seems that Shittim (their current campgrounds) became a hotbed of hanky panky and consequently of Baal worship. As you might expect, God was none too pleased.
So God tells Moses, go kill all the leaders in the light of day. No sneak attack, no drive-by shooting- make sure everyone knows these deaths are My punishment.
If there was ever a time for a leader to delegate responsibility, this was it- so Moses tells Israel judges to go ahead and kill all of their people who have Marvin Gaye playing in their tents.
One particularly brash Israelite named Zimri flaunted his dalliances. He brought a girl named Kozbi into the tent of "meeting" (it was probably that brazen Lisa Bonet). This Kozbi kid was also the daughter of a Midianite tribal chief. Aaron's grandson Phinehas would have none of it. He grabbed his spear, followed them into the tent, and drove the spear through both of them which is pretty impressive both strength-wise and geometrically. This apparently satisfied God and the plague stopped.
But not before 24,000 people died.
God says two things. First- he praises the zeal of Phinehas. He gives him credit for turning away His anger. And as a result God sets up a covenant with him and his offspring. They will have a lasting priesthood. I'm not really sure how this is different than what is already established since he's Aaron's grandson. Wouldn't he already be part of this priesthood? I would think that this would be part of the compulsion to cleanse the tent of meeting.
Second- He refers to the Kozbi incident as deception on the part of the Midianites. They are to treat the Midianites as enemies.
So, were the Moabite flirtations a ploy to separate Israel from God and weaken their strength? Was the religious orgy simply a military strategy? Is that why God reacts with such venom? God still showcases His power- but it certainly does reduce the number of men in the camp.
Stories like these are hard for me to make much sense of in our context. How do you reconcile a God who kills 24,000 of His own people with the God we see through Jesus' message of love and grace?
One thing is clear. God takes idolatry and sexual sin seriously. And that even those people who saw His power so directly weren't immune to the charms of such sin.
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