The 'mantle' signifies and anointing from God that empowers a leader to do the work of God. Joshua already had the Holy Spirit working in him, but to do this job of leading this people into the land and conquering the peoples that resided there, he needed the anointing that Moses had. So Eleazar laid his hands upon him for the reception of this anointing.
When the Bible says not to be hasty about the laying on of hands, this is a good example of the wisdom of this verse. Choosing people to serve the body of Christ in leadership is not just a matter of a person wanting to do it or their training or there sincere devotion to God or their talent or who the people want. It is a matter for God to select and appoint, so all involved need to be sensitive to the will of the Holy Spirit in these situations and to anoint only those they are certain God chose.
This also demonstrates that leaders cannot be self-appointed. They need to be selected by God through others, as demonstrated in this chapter, for the selection of David as king, for the selection of each apostle, for the selection of the writers of Scripture.
Moses did not make this choice, YHWH did. Moses knew that he was just a man corrupted by sin. But he also knew that YHWH always chooses rightly. In such an important appointment such as this, it was vital for God to appoint the leader, just as God had appointed Moses as the leader.
Moses set a very good example about bringing matters to the Lord before making decisions, when the people sinned and rebelled, when God brought plagues and death to the camp for sin, and most importantly, in writing the Scriptures as the Spirit moved him. He knew he was not just writing historical accounts, but that God was inspiring him in the writings that are our Scriptures. Even above these things, Moses knew that he was called God's friend and friends foster relationship with one another. Moses must have spent much time in prayer and in the presence of God in the pillar of fire and clouds and in the tent of meeting, as it is stated that he was often there with YHWH and the people would stand and face the tent of meeting while Moses was within. Moses valued building this relationship between himself and the Great God of all. He treasured his privilege that God initiated with him 40 years earlier in the desert at Mr. Horeb. He walked with God for 40 years under tremendous strain and the burden of leading such a people so immense in number.
Moses was instructed to bring Joshua before Eleazar the high priest to be consecrated to the YHWH as Moses' replacement. All three must have been both happy and sad. Happy to know that YHWH chose Joshua and sad because they knew that Moses would soon die. But as great leaders do, they stayed the course YHWH had put before them and completed the task of consecrating Joshua and presenting him to the people when they were all assembled together.
The last thing that I noticed was that YHWH told Moses that Joshua would receive from Moses what God had placed on Moses to be a leader and prophet-often called the mantle...cont.
The prophet is Isaiah, Matthew 1:22-23 shows the fulfillment of one of the many prophecies, this one we see given in Isaiah 14:7. Immanuel or in Greek Emmanuel is a Hebrew personal name meaning God is with us or God is with the people. Immanuel/Emmanuel is representative of the fact that God would demonstrate his love for us by the giving of His only begotten Son, Jesus the Messiah for the deliverance and salvation of his people, John 3:16.
Hebrew names have meaning like Jesus or Joshua that comes from the same Hebrew name Yehoshua meaning God is deliverance. It is derived from yeho meaning God and shua meaning to deliver or save.
Moses also did not argue with YHWH concerning his pending death. He was 120 years old and ready to join the 'fathers' who had died before him. He had the hope of the heavenly promised land, as Hebrews 11-12 speak of. He did not fight death, but would go the way of all men into death. But he had the hope of eternal life to come. I wonder if it better to not know when you will die or to know. Moses knew that YHWH's will was always true and best. He had spent the last 40 years seeking to know YHWH's will in what he did concerning this time of deliverance from Egypt and sojourning to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was a faithful servant and thought that God's way was much higher and better than anything he could decide. He desired to do God's will, but like all men, he did fail at times. Meribah was certainly not his only sin in the wilderness, but as the leader God chose to be over these people, he dishonored God whom he was to be a representative for in his anger. God takes this type of sin seriously because it lessons the view of Him before the people he was delivering. How closely we need to watch our example before those who are younger in life and/or faith in our lives. We are to be an example of Christ, imitating Him in our conduct, words, motives, etc. Can we be perfect? No, Moses was not either. But Christ was. So, in this instance, Moses represented all men-we all have sinned. And God will always be God-merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth ( Ex. 34:6) Moses knew first hand of these things God demonstrated to him and the nation that Moses often pleaded for so strongly before Him. God heard Moses and extended mercy each time because Moses was a friend of God.
The third section of this chapter is the appointing of Joshua as Moses' successor when Moses would die. God told Moses to do this and to appoint Joshua. ...cont.
There are three parts to this chapter. Th first part is the daughters of Zelophehad coming to Moses to ask for an inheritance in the promised land as their father had no sons to be inheritors. Moses seeks YHWH for a decision and he gets one-that these daughters of Israel would indeed receive an inheritance in the name of their father and not be left destitute. God's mercy is on show here. He would not let women be without rights to inheritances should there be no male heir. This was the case for Naomi and Ruth later on. Because the husbands of these women (who were Israelites) died in Moab, they were without land unless there was a near kinsman to redeem for them an inheritance. Boaz did so in marrying Ruth and bringing both Ruth and Naomi live in the land of Naomi's father's inheritance.
In Numbers 27, these five women are named: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. they di right by coming straight to Moses instead of gossiping around camp about their plight. They came to Moses respecting his favored position as God's appointed leader. They were not proud, or demanding, but spoke up for themselves willing to accept the decision of Moses because they knew he would seek an answer from YHWH. They came to the one who would intercede for their cause before YHWH just as we come to Jesus to intercede before the Father for us. so, here, Moses typifies Christ.
YHWH 's reply did give them their request and also instructions on how such situations are to be justly regulated to prevent women from being left destitute and without rights to land, which was what sustained the people at this time as a livelihood.
The second part is God speaking to Moses about his next steps. He was going to climb up Mt. Abiram (Mt. Nebo) and be allowed a fantastic view of the expanse of the promised land that he knew he would not enter due to his sin at Meribah. Moses was accepting of this privilege with humility and acceptance of God's justice for him. ...cont.
Johnpage59 We should always let the Word of God give us the Truth, not man or man's traditions!
We are told in ( Mt. 24:29-31) when Jesus Christ (the Son of man) comes in the clouds to gather together His elect. "Immediately after the tribulation". Those who believe in the pre-tribulation rapture theory will tell you these verses are the return of Jesus riding a white horse, that is not the truth John.
The #1 pre-tribulation rapture verse is ( 1 Thess. 4:16-17) If we look closely at these verses we find 3 things mentioned that we can use to compare with the verses of Jesus return to the earth riding a white horse in ( Rev. 19:11-16)
(1) v16 "and with the trump of God"
(2) v17 "shall be caught up together with them"
(3) v17 "in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air"
If we look at ( Rev. 19:11-16) We do not see a sound of a trumpet, we do not see a gathering together, and we do not see the Lord coming in the clouds!
Now if we compare those verses with ( Mt. 24:29-31) V29 "Immediately AFTER the tribulation"
We see in ( Mt. 24:31) (1) "with the great sound of a trumpet" (2) ( Mt. 24:31) "and they shall gather together his elect"
(3) ( Mt. 24:30) "and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds"
Also ( Mt. 24:30) Jesus is called the Son of man.
In ( Rev. 19:11) He is called Faithful and True ( Rev. 19:13) His name is called The Word of God.
To believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, one has to take or use verses completely out of context, and also in many cases read into Scripture something that's not there. This is simply the Truth.
I'm sure many on this site will disagree with this but as I said we must let the Word of God give us the Truth! It will speak for itself!
The Truth should be the only thing that matters, If one's pride doesn't get in the way!
Study these verses and compare them, it should be easy to see the Truth.
In this chapter YHWH again calls for a census of the people of this generation that will enter the promised land. Moses and Eleazar (the High Priest now since Aaron died) were tasked to number the tribes. This is why this book of the Bible is named "Numbers".
All of the tribes of Israel were numbered. The total was quite close to the same total that came out of Egypt and who died in the wilderness due to their grumbling. Think of all that death in just 40 years. So much rebellion and murmuring by parents and grandparents of this present generation cost a great loss of life. Yet now, as they are on the edge of entering the promised land, God has sustained the nation and replenished the population to the same level as how many left Egypt.
All tribes but Levites were to receive an allotment of land decided by God through the throwing of lots (perhaps a die or dice).
God guided whatever was thrown down to divide up the land justly.
Moses and Aaron had taken the census at Sinai at the Lord's command and this time Moses and Aaron's son, Eleazar, numbered the people at the Lord's command. God has His reasons for calling for such a census both times. Perhaps this time it was for several reasons:
To determine the size of the allotment of land commensurate with the size of the tribe.
To determine the size of the army that would soon battle many peoples that YHWH would drive out of the land as they followed His command.
To show the nation the goodness of YHWH in building the nation up once again before entering the land.
It was only the sons that were listed here, with the exception of a few daughters.
The chapter notes how all of the generation that had come out of Egypt had died, with the exception of Moses, Caleb, and Joshua. Only Joshua and Caleb will enter the land with this new generation. Moses will die beforehand as God had said he would.
The Levites did not receive land allotments because they are the priestly tribe.
Emmanuel is Hebrew for "God with us" as Jesus was indeed God dwelling in human flesh to live among us during His earthly life in a flesh and blood human body with a human nature, yet without sin. Jesus, the Son of God, who is the Word that is God in John 1:1 has always been God, the divine Son of the divine Father, but when He came to live a perfect earthly life, He also took on humanity in order to fulfill all of the law and obey the Father perfectly as a human man. He did this to fulfill all righteousness in order to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all humanity. So, Jesus was truly "God with us", so the name Emmanuel was speaking of who He is for all eternity, and not to be mistaken for only a mortal man when He lived His earthly life among us.
Jesus also told the disciples that He will always be with them after His resurrection. So, as the glorified Christ, He is with us as His Spirit dwells in us. If we have the Spirit in us, The Father and the Son also abide in us, as Jesus spoke at His Last Supper Discourse.
How wonderful is the name Emmanuel! God is with us. He is in us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is not far off from us, but closer than our own breath. He is forever our Lord and Savior.
We are His friends, as He said we are. We are united with Him by faith. We are hid in Him, being protected from the enemy. We are alive in Him because He arose from the dead. We are adopted as children of God through Jesus. We can never be separated from His love. We have an inheritance kept for us by Him in heaven. We will be brought to Him at the resurrection and will be with Him forever in His place of glory.
There are 3 theories about when the Rapture occurs:
1. Before the antichrist appears in the world
2. After, at the middle of the 7 year period he will be ruling on earth
3. At the very end of this 7 year period.
So which one is true? I am going to leave that to you to decide, but I'll tell you that:
Whether the bus comes at the bus stop at 11:00 or 11:30 or 12:00 it doesn't really matter, you must be there on time. In our christian lives we must be always ready for our departure from this life at any time, we don't know when Jesus comes for each one of us, whether all together or each one of us individually.
This would be the prophet Isaiah. Matthew tells us in Matthew 1:22 that this is a fulfillment. Matthew is presenting to us the fact that the birth of Christ fulfilled prophecy, which is Isaiah 7:14.
Hi Johnpage59 , more importantly , what do you think about the rapture theory and , why do you think what you do ? Are your beliefs based on what you have read in the Bible ? Read the Bible for yourself and then you will have confidence in what you believe because you will have read it and understood it . Don't rely on the internet or the people posting on it , go straight to the heart of the Truth . God is with you , read His Word and allow Him to reveal the Truth to you . Read the Bible for yourself , from Genesis to Revelation and when you have finished , start again . Keep doing this for the rest of your life and your faith and understanding and confidence in God will grow and you won't need to ask anyone else what they think . You will know for yourself . May God bless your efforts to draw closer to Him , through Jesus Christ our Saviour .
To give response to what you ask I believe that we have an obligation to tell people the truth but no, you're not gonna be able to tell all Christians that you come in contact with everything that you're doing wrong, but I do believe that if the spirit of the Lord leads you to tell them, you should tell them in obedience to the spirit of the living God and when you speak about trust, yes we should only put on trust in the Lord and his word we can have confidence in people, but we don't put our trust in him and then in truth I'm not sure if you were asking me a question are you trying to tell me something but either way I'm giving this response and confidence that is an answer to maybe a question or maybe the response and yes, we should be able to give scriptures for what it is that we speak and also to give a response to the comment about believing the full Bible, the new and old testament I absolutely agree the Bible says that the the New Testament or the Old Testament is a shadow of the new way to believe it all from the front to the back. There's something in the front for us in our living now just as well as it is something in the back we need to oh and the new, so I definitely believe we are supposed to operate in full word
I became a Christian and didn't join a church. Everything I heard and read was on line. Everywhere was Rapture theory. Doubt crept in after a couple of years when I realized that verses were conflated to get that message across. I still feel very confused about this subject. Just wondering what people here think of the rapture theory. Kind regards John.
Hello Jema, I agree that before God any and all sin is equally deadly to our souls.
However, my point was that the effects of sin on a person that manifest in a person's life vary. It seems that sexual sin and idolatry do more harm to the community of believers than many other sins, such as in this instance. The draw of such enticement easily pervaded the camp of the Israelites, not taking very long to bring 24,000 men into such sin in a short period of time. This is what i was emphasizing.
Hi Gigi , I hope you don't mind me commenting on your post . With regards to sexual immorality being a more serious sin than some others , it's my belief that all sins are as serious as others , it's all disobedience to God's commandment , remember the man who was stoned to death for picking up sticks on the Sabbath ? Remember the first sin ? It wasn't about the eating of the fruit , it was the disobedience to God command . That's what sin is , disobedience to God's command . Luke chapter 13 verses 1-5 , the word perish in these instances , means to be utterly destroyed. We are all under the same condemnation , this was recognised by the man who was crucified on Jesus's right hand and was his confession . It should also be all of ours .
Friends are much as family; those who we have long term or we grow up with can be the most difficult to reach for the truth as family members are for similar reasons. Sadly even one who led me along with her mom to the Lord 40 years ago seems to have little interest in meeting since I moved here 2 years ago I haven't heard from him despite a couple attempts to reach out. I am pretty confident he still believes; but that reminded me that there is another category here; namely those who have "deconstructed" from their faith (which used to be known as falling away). As our friends of course the last thing they want us to do is ask them if they are saved or witness to them unless God does a real work on them first. That is like my ex wife who still told me during her rebellion and adultery that she still was saved and walking in the Lord when she decided to marry her lover years later.
Discretion is needed when relationships need to be severed. If our friends can respect our new boundaries as believers that is good; if not they will decide for themselves if it is worth having our friendship. We need to be aware if someone is being used of the enemy to tempt us to fall; and if they engage in activities that we are prone to fall into then we need to remove ourselves; permanently if needed from association with them.
I suppose that is a word of warning much like I stated in regard to nursing homes in the earlier post. We have to be cautious handing out phone numbers or giving any personal information to those we witness to for our own safety as well as others. My friends in Pittsburgh would attempt to screen out those coming to home Bible study; but we need to watch out for each other.
I have seen where wisdom on the subject prevented a possible mishap in the past for someone who wanted to sleep over my friend's house. We need to leave some things to professionals for those with obvious mental issues. Let us follow Matt.10:16
Concluding thoughts on family: Division is promised in scripture with family members being enemies in some sense ( Matt. 10:21). Such realities are harsh but necessary; or we hold onto memories or loyalties that are more important than God in our lives. In my case prayer is in order for all situations with my aging parents; for practical reasons with my dad's mental state at present and mother's frail physical and emotional condition the stress of many decisions are on my shoulders with a balance of that and allowing them to still have the autonomy of making their own decisions unless it is a danger to themselves. It is helping me be stronger in that sense; but I would advise anyone else to be in prayer with others as I was before making the decision to move back home under such circumstances. Having others such as the church family I have at present praying for their salvation; as well as hearing of others whose parents came to the Lord in the last months of their lives is also an encouragement.
I am fortunate at least not to have direct resistance or persecution in regard to taking time out for church and several other related activities. Under the circumstances; of course I am restricted as to some activities when chores need to be done to help out at home and can't do things late at night or be out of town very long.
Friends
I am tying this into this concluding page on witnessing; as it regarded a similar situation. I had an elderly friend who knew my now ex wife as a close friend of her stepfather who in reality was the only real father she had. I would do shopping for him and his lady friend before she passed around 2012. He was Jewish; and I made a couple concerted efforts to explain from Romans his need for Christ. I told him I understood if he wanted to sever ties; he said he wouldn't do that but never came to saving faith unless on his deathbed. He passed about 2 years ago now.
Matthew 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Matthew 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Jesus despite His statement in Matthew 12:48 (He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?) Jesus demonstrated at the cross his concern for his mother's care and had John live there with her in John 19. It was even worded in the same way "behold your mother"and "behold your son" in verses 26 and 27. We see from the verses above as well as others that family is often the most dificult to reach; even in Christ's case James only believed after the cross. ( John 7:5) shows this; along with unbelief of other brothers at the time. If a sinless Christ was viewed in His hometown as merely being the Son of Joseph and Mary at the time despite the virgin birth being a reality; then of course the only other option would have been as the Pharisees said in John 8:41. And of course we can't expect anything more; since we indeed are all sinners saved by grace. Our family will see something different about us from what we once were; especially if there is a dramatic change in behavior due to certain outward manifestations of behavior radically different after salvation. Of course all of our past mistakes and human weaknesses will be scrutinized by those who grew up with us.
We have challenges from Jesus in both loving God more than our own family as well as the mandates to honor our Father and mother. Clearly our Lord understood the right balance and we should learn from His example. Our natural family isn't our spiritual one; it may or may not become that in time. In my own life not only do I have 2 unbelieving parents in their 90's; NO one in my family to the best of my knowledge are saved. Having to live at home at present therefore means my walk and behavior has to be consistent. Preaching is not going to accomplish much; they are aware I have been a believer 40 years+
Nicely put; although many either won't accept it or have difficulty understanding this scriptural concept. I would say that understanding how lost and helpless we are is part of the way the Lord draws in His own. Thus I am not so dogmatic as to always emphasizing the time that we make a confession of faith; as I believe God works with His own BEFOREHAND as well as afterwards.
In fact; I am sure you will agree that mere "confessional regeneration" is a misnomer; otherwise known as "accepting Christ". Christ is already Lord just as much as Lucifer is now the Devil if we are merely to state a fact. For Christ to be Lord and Savior; of course He is to be our Master.
There can be a point when we ask God to help us with our unbelief. As for my own walk I can only say that I believed in the existence of a Creator but didn't get why things were so messed up in the world; only later did I realize that I myself with all my affections and such was part of the problem separating me from that God.
Telling the wheat from the chaff; however isn't something we can always do. You know them by their fruits but God will listen to the pleas of some and abandon others ultimately even when they cry out to Him. We can't take this concept to the level that we are cold toward those crying out to the Lord for help; in that we say if they are the elect they will receive a response. That is because until we believe this concept of election really can't be fully understood. I have seen "hyper" Calvanists say things like that when the Lord would use them to have a listening ear and compassionate heart to those struggling with sin. The difference of course is that the unregenerate only want to avoid the consequences (worldly sorrow leads to death); and those who end up being saved are those who have Godly sorrow. This is why we don't make Calvanism or the doctrines therein as our faith but we believe in the God who Himself chooses to act in this way ( Deut. 29:29).
That by this faith alone, which is the gift which is from above, (and not that faith which grows either in the wilderness or garden of the old nature, and is fed by the oldness of the letter, and not by the newness of the Spirit) is Christ received. For Christ can be received by the faith alone that comes from him; and that faith which comes from him cannot but receive him. Man's faith refuseth him; it receiveth a literal knowledge of him from what it heareth from men, or from what it readeth related in the Scripture concerning him; but refuseth the nature of the thing. And it cannot be otherwise; for man's faith, not being of the nature of it, cannot but refuse it. But this faith, which is given of God, which is from above, being of the same life and nature with Christ, cannot refuse the spring of its own life; but receiveth him immediately. There is no distance of time; but so soon as faith is received, Christ is received and the soul united to Him in the faith.
There is no distance of time; but so soon as faith is received, Christ is received, and the soul united to him in the faith. As unbelief immediately shuts him out, so faith lets him in immediately, and centres the soul in him: and the immortal soul feels the immortal virtue, and rejoices in the proper spring of its own immortal nature. But the faith of man never reaches this, never receives Christ, but only a relation of things concerning him; and with that faith which stands in the letter, opposes that faith which stands in the life. And here is the spirit of antichrist; here is the mystery of iniquity, working out of one form into another: for antichrist does not directly deny Christ, or deny the letter; but cries up Christ, cries up the letter, cries up ordinances; but so as they may feed the faith of his own nature, and maintain a hope there. And thus the spirit of man is at unity with what will feed his own, with what interpretations his own understanding can gather out of the Scriptures. And thus can he cry up Christ, and say he hopes to be saved by him, while the spirit of enmity against the nature of Christ lodgeth in his heart. This is antichrist, wherever he is found; and this is his faith, and great is his knowledge, and many are his coverings; but the Lord is searching him out, who will strip him, and make his nakedness appear.
That this faith (which springs from the true knowledge) is God's gift, and is not that power of believing which is to be found in man's nature; but of another nature, even the nature of the giver. And when man is called to believe, he is not called to put forth that faith wherewith he believeth other things; but to receive and exercise the gift of faith, which is from above. That which is to be believed in is spiritual; and that must be spiritual which believes in it. Man, with all the powers of his nature, is shut out; it is another thing, distinct from man, which is let into life, and which lets man in. For man receiving the faith, entering into the faith, and becoming new-formed in the faith, then he also may enter; but till then he is shut out, and knoweth not the life, let him believe and read and pray and hear and exercise himself in that which he calls duties and ordinances ever so much; for all these, set up in the wrong part in man, only feed the wrong part; and that, with all its food and nourishment, falls short of the life. Therefore the true entrance into religion is to feel that power which slays man's natural ability and propensity to believe, that so the gift of the true faith may be received: for there is no rising up and living of the second, without the death of the first, with all its natural faculties and powers.
YHWH tells Moses to lead the nation against the Midianites and smite them because of the way they vexed Israel with their wiles and beguilement.
At first, it seems to say the women were Moabites, but here it says they were Midianites. Perhaps it was women from both peoples.
The account of this battle is in Numbers 31.
There are many lessons from this chapter.
The foremost one to me is that we need to be sure we are worshipping the LORD rightly and to never think that we can worship both Him and any other idol and expect to be blessed and spared from punishment. God is jealous for His own honor and for His bride, the Church.
The second lesson for me is how it seems that sexual immorality and idolatry are very serious sins, and especially so when done together as was done in this chapter. We must have God's view on moral sexual expression and not adopt the mores of the popular culture. Our culture today accepts every form of sexual expression as permissible. Even in the church, many are not bothered by people co-habiting prior to marriage with an active sexual relationship. Many are not fazed by the rampant divorce and remarriage in the church, the breaking of the one flesh union and covenant of marriage so readily and the unashamed remarrying after a divorce.
Third lesson is for us to value our commitment to the covenant we have with God, realize the cost of attaining it to our Lord and the giving of the benefits of this covenant to us who believe despite our sinfulness. We must commit to staying within the parameters of this covenant and not seek to covenant with anyone else but God.
The fourth is that God is not mocked. What we sow, we reap. So, we should sow to that which is lasting, given unto eternal life rather than sowing evil and reaping unto death and judgment. We cannot run with the world and have peace with God. Jesus is our peace and we have peace when we abide in Him.
It seems that these two were engaging in sexual immorality either in his own tent or within the tent of meeting. The text is unclear concerning this. It says that Phinehas having observed this from among the congregation makes me think it was an open act before where Moses and Phineas (the high priest) were seated. Phinehas is said t have rose up from his place. This action by Phinehas caused YHWH to stop the plague that was taking the lives of so many men in the camp.
YHWH commended Phinehas to Moses for his zeal for the honor of YHWH and for putting and end to these two flagrant idolaters. Phineas was given a covenant of peace and everlasting priesthood because by slaying the man and the woman he made atonement for the people. This was a shadow of Jesus, our High Priest, only the way of atonement is reversed; instead of slaying the guilty party as Phinehas did, Jesus, the sinless one was slain to make atonement and take away the wrath of God on sinners. This covenant with Phineas (and the house of Levi) was rescinded as Malachi 2:1-9 because of the corruption of the priesthood by the Levites. Jesus is the only SINLESS one who was zealous for God and made atonement. (vs. 13)
Both the name of the Israelite and the Midianite woman were named in this chapter. Perhaps they are so pointed out because maybe the Israelite thought that He could worship YHWH in the same manner as the Moabites worshipped Baal. God hated this severely. The Israelite was the prince (son) of the chief of the tribe of Simeon. The Midianite woman was the daughter of the head over the people of Midian, of a chief house of the Midianites. Both were people of prominence. They may have been involved at the first of this adultery/idolatry and led others to follow. They were bold and brazen in their outward display of such debauchery. So, God made a them an example before the people by stirring Phinehas to slay them both at once.
God knew all along what Balak and Balaam would try to do to the Israelites and how Israelites would break His covenant. Nothing came as a surprise to God. He cannot be fooled. He also cannot go back on His word once declared. God brought punishment upon Israel by telling Moses to hang all of the leaders (heads) of the tribes publicly so that all of the Israelites would see how YHWH punished them for not leading a resistance to the advances of the Moabites and/or participated in the sexual immorality and idolatry with the Moabite women. Also, Moses instructed the judges of Israel to slay every man that participated in these incidents, having joined themselves to Baal through their acts of worship which included sexual forms of worship.
Israel was to be joined to YHWH, as a woman is joined to her husband. Just as fidelity in marriage is expected, so did YHWH expect Israel to refuse to worship any idol/false god. They were not to be joined to YHWH in covenant and also joined to any idol/false god through worshipping these, especially in sexual ways. Baal was the god of fertility, so this immorality was to entice Baal to bring fruitfulness of the womb and fields for the people. These feasts/sacrifices/orgies were celebrated out in the open before the idol set up in the groves of trees or on the mountain tops. 24,000 Israelite men were slain that day, either by the Moses, judges, or the plague that God sent into the camp.
Many Israelites seemed to be remorseful and came before the door of the tent of meeting weeping before the LORD.
One Israelite rashly brought a Midianite woman (apparently the Midianites were traveling among the Moabites at the time, since they were nomadic) before these people, flaunting her before the tent of meeting in the site of Moses and Phineas, son of Eleazar..
Phineas went after the two and thrust a spear through the man and woman in one thrust, killing them both. ...cont.
cont.
The 'mantle' signifies and anointing from God that empowers a leader to do the work of God. Joshua already had the Holy Spirit working in him, but to do this job of leading this people into the land and conquering the peoples that resided there, he needed the anointing that Moses had. So Eleazar laid his hands upon him for the reception of this anointing.
When the Bible says not to be hasty about the laying on of hands, this is a good example of the wisdom of this verse. Choosing people to serve the body of Christ in leadership is not just a matter of a person wanting to do it or their training or there sincere devotion to God or their talent or who the people want. It is a matter for God to select and appoint, so all involved need to be sensitive to the will of the Holy Spirit in these situations and to anoint only those they are certain God chose.
This also demonstrates that leaders cannot be self-appointed. They need to be selected by God through others, as demonstrated in this chapter, for the selection of David as king, for the selection of each apostle, for the selection of the writers of Scripture.
cont.
Moses did not make this choice, YHWH did. Moses knew that he was just a man corrupted by sin. But he also knew that YHWH always chooses rightly. In such an important appointment such as this, it was vital for God to appoint the leader, just as God had appointed Moses as the leader.
Moses set a very good example about bringing matters to the Lord before making decisions, when the people sinned and rebelled, when God brought plagues and death to the camp for sin, and most importantly, in writing the Scriptures as the Spirit moved him. He knew he was not just writing historical accounts, but that God was inspiring him in the writings that are our Scriptures. Even above these things, Moses knew that he was called God's friend and friends foster relationship with one another. Moses must have spent much time in prayer and in the presence of God in the pillar of fire and clouds and in the tent of meeting, as it is stated that he was often there with YHWH and the people would stand and face the tent of meeting while Moses was within. Moses valued building this relationship between himself and the Great God of all. He treasured his privilege that God initiated with him 40 years earlier in the desert at Mr. Horeb. He walked with God for 40 years under tremendous strain and the burden of leading such a people so immense in number.
Moses was instructed to bring Joshua before Eleazar the high priest to be consecrated to the YHWH as Moses' replacement. All three must have been both happy and sad. Happy to know that YHWH chose Joshua and sad because they knew that Moses would soon die. But as great leaders do, they stayed the course YHWH had put before them and completed the task of consecrating Joshua and presenting him to the people when they were all assembled together.
The last thing that I noticed was that YHWH told Moses that Joshua would receive from Moses what God had placed on Moses to be a leader and prophet-often called the mantle...cont.
The prophet is Isaiah, Matthew 1:22-23 shows the fulfillment of one of the many prophecies, this one we see given in Isaiah 14:7. Immanuel or in Greek Emmanuel is a Hebrew personal name meaning God is with us or God is with the people. Immanuel/Emmanuel is representative of the fact that God would demonstrate his love for us by the giving of His only begotten Son, Jesus the Messiah for the deliverance and salvation of his people, John 3:16.
Hebrew names have meaning like Jesus or Joshua that comes from the same Hebrew name Yehoshua meaning God is deliverance. It is derived from yeho meaning God and shua meaning to deliver or save.
God bless,
RLW
CONTINUED.
Moses also did not argue with YHWH concerning his pending death. He was 120 years old and ready to join the 'fathers' who had died before him. He had the hope of the heavenly promised land, as Hebrews 11-12 speak of. He did not fight death, but would go the way of all men into death. But he had the hope of eternal life to come. I wonder if it better to not know when you will die or to know. Moses knew that YHWH's will was always true and best. He had spent the last 40 years seeking to know YHWH's will in what he did concerning this time of deliverance from Egypt and sojourning to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was a faithful servant and thought that God's way was much higher and better than anything he could decide. He desired to do God's will, but like all men, he did fail at times. Meribah was certainly not his only sin in the wilderness, but as the leader God chose to be over these people, he dishonored God whom he was to be a representative for in his anger. God takes this type of sin seriously because it lessons the view of Him before the people he was delivering. How closely we need to watch our example before those who are younger in life and/or faith in our lives. We are to be an example of Christ, imitating Him in our conduct, words, motives, etc. Can we be perfect? No, Moses was not either. But Christ was. So, in this instance, Moses represented all men-we all have sinned. And God will always be God-merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth ( Ex. 34:6) Moses knew first hand of these things God demonstrated to him and the nation that Moses often pleaded for so strongly before Him. God heard Moses and extended mercy each time because Moses was a friend of God.
The third section of this chapter is the appointing of Joshua as Moses' successor when Moses would die. God told Moses to do this and to appoint Joshua. ...cont.
There are three parts to this chapter. Th first part is the daughters of Zelophehad coming to Moses to ask for an inheritance in the promised land as their father had no sons to be inheritors. Moses seeks YHWH for a decision and he gets one-that these daughters of Israel would indeed receive an inheritance in the name of their father and not be left destitute. God's mercy is on show here. He would not let women be without rights to inheritances should there be no male heir. This was the case for Naomi and Ruth later on. Because the husbands of these women (who were Israelites) died in Moab, they were without land unless there was a near kinsman to redeem for them an inheritance. Boaz did so in marrying Ruth and bringing both Ruth and Naomi live in the land of Naomi's father's inheritance.
In Numbers 27, these five women are named: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. they di right by coming straight to Moses instead of gossiping around camp about their plight. They came to Moses respecting his favored position as God's appointed leader. They were not proud, or demanding, but spoke up for themselves willing to accept the decision of Moses because they knew he would seek an answer from YHWH. They came to the one who would intercede for their cause before YHWH just as we come to Jesus to intercede before the Father for us. so, here, Moses typifies Christ.
YHWH 's reply did give them their request and also instructions on how such situations are to be justly regulated to prevent women from being left destitute and without rights to land, which was what sustained the people at this time as a livelihood.
The second part is God speaking to Moses about his next steps. He was going to climb up Mt. Abiram (Mt. Nebo) and be allowed a fantastic view of the expanse of the promised land that he knew he would not enter due to his sin at Meribah. Moses was accepting of this privilege with humility and acceptance of God's justice for him. ...cont.
We are told in ( Mt. 24:29-31) when Jesus Christ (the Son of man) comes in the clouds to gather together His elect. "Immediately after the tribulation". Those who believe in the pre-tribulation rapture theory will tell you these verses are the return of Jesus riding a white horse, that is not the truth John.
The #1 pre-tribulation rapture verse is ( 1 Thess. 4:16-17) If we look closely at these verses we find 3 things mentioned that we can use to compare with the verses of Jesus return to the earth riding a white horse in ( Rev. 19:11-16)
(1) v16 "and with the trump of God"
(2) v17 "shall be caught up together with them"
(3) v17 "in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air"
If we look at ( Rev. 19:11-16) We do not see a sound of a trumpet, we do not see a gathering together, and we do not see the Lord coming in the clouds!
Now if we compare those verses with ( Mt. 24:29-31) V29 "Immediately AFTER the tribulation"
We see in ( Mt. 24:31) (1) "with the great sound of a trumpet" (2) ( Mt. 24:31) "and they shall gather together his elect"
(3) ( Mt. 24:30) "and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds"
Also ( Mt. 24:30) Jesus is called the Son of man.
In ( Rev. 19:11) He is called Faithful and True ( Rev. 19:13) His name is called The Word of God.
To believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, one has to take or use verses completely out of context, and also in many cases read into Scripture something that's not there. This is simply the Truth.
I'm sure many on this site will disagree with this but as I said we must let the Word of God give us the Truth! It will speak for itself!
The Truth should be the only thing that matters, If one's pride doesn't get in the way!
Study these verses and compare them, it should be easy to see the Truth.
Blessings to you John.
In this chapter YHWH again calls for a census of the people of this generation that will enter the promised land. Moses and Eleazar (the High Priest now since Aaron died) were tasked to number the tribes. This is why this book of the Bible is named "Numbers".
All of the tribes of Israel were numbered. The total was quite close to the same total that came out of Egypt and who died in the wilderness due to their grumbling. Think of all that death in just 40 years. So much rebellion and murmuring by parents and grandparents of this present generation cost a great loss of life. Yet now, as they are on the edge of entering the promised land, God has sustained the nation and replenished the population to the same level as how many left Egypt.
All tribes but Levites were to receive an allotment of land decided by God through the throwing of lots (perhaps a die or dice).
God guided whatever was thrown down to divide up the land justly.
Moses and Aaron had taken the census at Sinai at the Lord's command and this time Moses and Aaron's son, Eleazar, numbered the people at the Lord's command. God has His reasons for calling for such a census both times. Perhaps this time it was for several reasons:
To determine the size of the allotment of land commensurate with the size of the tribe.
To determine the size of the army that would soon battle many peoples that YHWH would drive out of the land as they followed His command.
To show the nation the goodness of YHWH in building the nation up once again before entering the land.
It was only the sons that were listed here, with the exception of a few daughters.
The chapter notes how all of the generation that had come out of Egypt had died, with the exception of Moses, Caleb, and Joshua. Only Joshua and Caleb will enter the land with this new generation. Moses will die beforehand as God had said he would.
The Levites did not receive land allotments because they are the priestly tribe.
Glad to meet you.
Emmanuel is Hebrew for "God with us" as Jesus was indeed God dwelling in human flesh to live among us during His earthly life in a flesh and blood human body with a human nature, yet without sin. Jesus, the Son of God, who is the Word that is God in John 1:1 has always been God, the divine Son of the divine Father, but when He came to live a perfect earthly life, He also took on humanity in order to fulfill all of the law and obey the Father perfectly as a human man. He did this to fulfill all righteousness in order to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all humanity. So, Jesus was truly "God with us", so the name Emmanuel was speaking of who He is for all eternity, and not to be mistaken for only a mortal man when He lived His earthly life among us.
Jesus also told the disciples that He will always be with them after His resurrection. So, as the glorified Christ, He is with us as His Spirit dwells in us. If we have the Spirit in us, The Father and the Son also abide in us, as Jesus spoke at His Last Supper Discourse.
How wonderful is the name Emmanuel! God is with us. He is in us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is not far off from us, but closer than our own breath. He is forever our Lord and Savior.
We are His friends, as He said we are. We are united with Him by faith. We are hid in Him, being protected from the enemy. We are alive in Him because He arose from the dead. We are adopted as children of God through Jesus. We can never be separated from His love. We have an inheritance kept for us by Him in heaven. We will be brought to Him at the resurrection and will be with Him forever in His place of glory.
Hallelujah!
There are 3 theories about when the Rapture occurs:
1. Before the antichrist appears in the world
2. After, at the middle of the 7 year period he will be ruling on earth
3. At the very end of this 7 year period.
So which one is true? I am going to leave that to you to decide, but I'll tell you that:
Whether the bus comes at the bus stop at 11:00 or 11:30 or 12:00 it doesn't really matter, you must be there on time. In our christian lives we must be always ready for our departure from this life at any time, we don't know when Jesus comes for each one of us, whether all together or each one of us individually.
GBU
This would be the prophet Isaiah. Matthew tells us in Matthew 1:22 that this is a fulfillment. Matthew is presenting to us the fact that the birth of Christ fulfilled prophecy, which is Isaiah 7:14.
"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body."
However, my point was that the effects of sin on a person that manifest in a person's life vary. It seems that sexual sin and idolatry do more harm to the community of believers than many other sins, such as in this instance. The draw of such enticement easily pervaded the camp of the Israelites, not taking very long to bring 24,000 men into such sin in a short period of time. This is what i was emphasizing.
My question is about Matthew 22-23. Who is this prophet, and why is he told to use the name Emmanuel?
I look forward to any answers, thoughts or ideas,
DanYells
You are welcome. All glory to the Lord!
I've been collecting them and will have a chance this weekend to go over and study them!
May the Lord bless you for all you do.
Friends are much as family; those who we have long term or we grow up with can be the most difficult to reach for the truth as family members are for similar reasons. Sadly even one who led me along with her mom to the Lord 40 years ago seems to have little interest in meeting since I moved here 2 years ago I haven't heard from him despite a couple attempts to reach out. I am pretty confident he still believes; but that reminded me that there is another category here; namely those who have "deconstructed" from their faith (which used to be known as falling away). As our friends of course the last thing they want us to do is ask them if they are saved or witness to them unless God does a real work on them first. That is like my ex wife who still told me during her rebellion and adultery that she still was saved and walking in the Lord when she decided to marry her lover years later.
Discretion is needed when relationships need to be severed. If our friends can respect our new boundaries as believers that is good; if not they will decide for themselves if it is worth having our friendship. We need to be aware if someone is being used of the enemy to tempt us to fall; and if they engage in activities that we are prone to fall into then we need to remove ourselves; permanently if needed from association with them.
I suppose that is a word of warning much like I stated in regard to nursing homes in the earlier post. We have to be cautious handing out phone numbers or giving any personal information to those we witness to for our own safety as well as others. My friends in Pittsburgh would attempt to screen out those coming to home Bible study; but we need to watch out for each other.
I have seen where wisdom on the subject prevented a possible mishap in the past for someone who wanted to sleep over my friend's house. We need to leave some things to professionals for those with obvious mental issues. Let us follow Matt.10:16
Concluding thoughts on family: Division is promised in scripture with family members being enemies in some sense ( Matt. 10:21). Such realities are harsh but necessary; or we hold onto memories or loyalties that are more important than God in our lives. In my case prayer is in order for all situations with my aging parents; for practical reasons with my dad's mental state at present and mother's frail physical and emotional condition the stress of many decisions are on my shoulders with a balance of that and allowing them to still have the autonomy of making their own decisions unless it is a danger to themselves. It is helping me be stronger in that sense; but I would advise anyone else to be in prayer with others as I was before making the decision to move back home under such circumstances. Having others such as the church family I have at present praying for their salvation; as well as hearing of others whose parents came to the Lord in the last months of their lives is also an encouragement.
I am fortunate at least not to have direct resistance or persecution in regard to taking time out for church and several other related activities. Under the circumstances; of course I am restricted as to some activities when chores need to be done to help out at home and can't do things late at night or be out of town very long.
Friends
I am tying this into this concluding page on witnessing; as it regarded a similar situation. I had an elderly friend who knew my now ex wife as a close friend of her stepfather who in reality was the only real father she had. I would do shopping for him and his lady friend before she passed around 2012. He was Jewish; and I made a couple concerted efforts to explain from Romans his need for Christ. I told him I understood if he wanted to sever ties; he said he wouldn't do that but never came to saving faith unless on his deathbed. He passed about 2 years ago now.
Matthew 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Matthew 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Jesus despite His statement in Matthew 12:48 (He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?) Jesus demonstrated at the cross his concern for his mother's care and had John live there with her in John 19. It was even worded in the same way "behold your mother"and "behold your son" in verses 26 and 27. We see from the verses above as well as others that family is often the most dificult to reach; even in Christ's case James only believed after the cross. ( John 7:5) shows this; along with unbelief of other brothers at the time. If a sinless Christ was viewed in His hometown as merely being the Son of Joseph and Mary at the time despite the virgin birth being a reality; then of course the only other option would have been as the Pharisees said in John 8:41. And of course we can't expect anything more; since we indeed are all sinners saved by grace. Our family will see something different about us from what we once were; especially if there is a dramatic change in behavior due to certain outward manifestations of behavior radically different after salvation. Of course all of our past mistakes and human weaknesses will be scrutinized by those who grew up with us.
We have challenges from Jesus in both loving God more than our own family as well as the mandates to honor our Father and mother. Clearly our Lord understood the right balance and we should learn from His example. Our natural family isn't our spiritual one; it may or may not become that in time. In my own life not only do I have 2 unbelieving parents in their 90's; NO one in my family to the best of my knowledge are saved. Having to live at home at present therefore means my walk and behavior has to be consistent. Preaching is not going to accomplish much; they are aware I have been a believer 40 years+
In fact; I am sure you will agree that mere "confessional regeneration" is a misnomer; otherwise known as "accepting Christ". Christ is already Lord just as much as Lucifer is now the Devil if we are merely to state a fact. For Christ to be Lord and Savior; of course He is to be our Master.
There can be a point when we ask God to help us with our unbelief. As for my own walk I can only say that I believed in the existence of a Creator but didn't get why things were so messed up in the world; only later did I realize that I myself with all my affections and such was part of the problem separating me from that God.
Telling the wheat from the chaff; however isn't something we can always do. You know them by their fruits but God will listen to the pleas of some and abandon others ultimately even when they cry out to Him. We can't take this concept to the level that we are cold toward those crying out to the Lord for help; in that we say if they are the elect they will receive a response. That is because until we believe this concept of election really can't be fully understood. I have seen "hyper" Calvanists say things like that when the Lord would use them to have a listening ear and compassionate heart to those struggling with sin. The difference of course is that the unregenerate only want to avoid the consequences (worldly sorrow leads to death); and those who end up being saved are those who have Godly sorrow. This is why we don't make Calvanism or the doctrines therein as our faith but we believe in the God who Himself chooses to act in this way ( Deut. 29:29).
Agape.
That by this faith alone, which is the gift which is from above, (and not that faith which grows either in the wilderness or garden of the old nature, and is fed by the oldness of the letter, and not by the newness of the Spirit) is Christ received. For Christ can be received by the faith alone that comes from him; and that faith which comes from him cannot but receive him. Man's faith refuseth him; it receiveth a literal knowledge of him from what it heareth from men, or from what it readeth related in the Scripture concerning him; but refuseth the nature of the thing. And it cannot be otherwise; for man's faith, not being of the nature of it, cannot but refuse it. But this faith, which is given of God, which is from above, being of the same life and nature with Christ, cannot refuse the spring of its own life; but receiveth him immediately. There is no distance of time; but so soon as faith is received, Christ is received and the soul united to Him in the faith.
There is no distance of time; but so soon as faith is received, Christ is received, and the soul united to him in the faith. As unbelief immediately shuts him out, so faith lets him in immediately, and centres the soul in him: and the immortal soul feels the immortal virtue, and rejoices in the proper spring of its own immortal nature. But the faith of man never reaches this, never receives Christ, but only a relation of things concerning him; and with that faith which stands in the letter, opposes that faith which stands in the life. And here is the spirit of antichrist; here is the mystery of iniquity, working out of one form into another: for antichrist does not directly deny Christ, or deny the letter; but cries up Christ, cries up the letter, cries up ordinances; but so as they may feed the faith of his own nature, and maintain a hope there. And thus the spirit of man is at unity with what will feed his own, with what interpretations his own understanding can gather out of the Scriptures. And thus can he cry up Christ, and say he hopes to be saved by him, while the spirit of enmity against the nature of Christ lodgeth in his heart. This is antichrist, wherever he is found; and this is his faith, and great is his knowledge, and many are his coverings; but the Lord is searching him out, who will strip him, and make his nakedness appear.
That this faith (which springs from the true knowledge) is God's gift, and is not that power of believing which is to be found in man's nature; but of another nature, even the nature of the giver. And when man is called to believe, he is not called to put forth that faith wherewith he believeth other things; but to receive and exercise the gift of faith, which is from above. That which is to be believed in is spiritual; and that must be spiritual which believes in it. Man, with all the powers of his nature, is shut out; it is another thing, distinct from man, which is let into life, and which lets man in. For man receiving the faith, entering into the faith, and becoming new-formed in the faith, then he also may enter; but till then he is shut out, and knoweth not the life, let him believe and read and pray and hear and exercise himself in that which he calls duties and ordinances ever so much; for all these, set up in the wrong part in man, only feed the wrong part; and that, with all its food and nourishment, falls short of the life. Therefore the true entrance into religion is to feel that power which slays man's natural ability and propensity to believe, that so the gift of the true faith may be received: for there is no rising up and living of the second, without the death of the first, with all its natural faculties and powers.
YHWH tells Moses to lead the nation against the Midianites and smite them because of the way they vexed Israel with their wiles and beguilement.
At first, it seems to say the women were Moabites, but here it says they were Midianites. Perhaps it was women from both peoples.
The account of this battle is in Numbers 31.
There are many lessons from this chapter.
The foremost one to me is that we need to be sure we are worshipping the LORD rightly and to never think that we can worship both Him and any other idol and expect to be blessed and spared from punishment. God is jealous for His own honor and for His bride, the Church.
The second lesson for me is how it seems that sexual immorality and idolatry are very serious sins, and especially so when done together as was done in this chapter. We must have God's view on moral sexual expression and not adopt the mores of the popular culture. Our culture today accepts every form of sexual expression as permissible. Even in the church, many are not bothered by people co-habiting prior to marriage with an active sexual relationship. Many are not fazed by the rampant divorce and remarriage in the church, the breaking of the one flesh union and covenant of marriage so readily and the unashamed remarrying after a divorce.
Third lesson is for us to value our commitment to the covenant we have with God, realize the cost of attaining it to our Lord and the giving of the benefits of this covenant to us who believe despite our sinfulness. We must commit to staying within the parameters of this covenant and not seek to covenant with anyone else but God.
The fourth is that God is not mocked. What we sow, we reap. So, we should sow to that which is lasting, given unto eternal life rather than sowing evil and reaping unto death and judgment. We cannot run with the world and have peace with God. Jesus is our peace and we have peace when we abide in Him.
Cont.
It seems that these two were engaging in sexual immorality either in his own tent or within the tent of meeting. The text is unclear concerning this. It says that Phinehas having observed this from among the congregation makes me think it was an open act before where Moses and Phineas (the high priest) were seated. Phinehas is said t have rose up from his place. This action by Phinehas caused YHWH to stop the plague that was taking the lives of so many men in the camp.
YHWH commended Phinehas to Moses for his zeal for the honor of YHWH and for putting and end to these two flagrant idolaters. Phineas was given a covenant of peace and everlasting priesthood because by slaying the man and the woman he made atonement for the people. This was a shadow of Jesus, our High Priest, only the way of atonement is reversed; instead of slaying the guilty party as Phinehas did, Jesus, the sinless one was slain to make atonement and take away the wrath of God on sinners. This covenant with Phineas (and the house of Levi) was rescinded as Malachi 2:1-9 because of the corruption of the priesthood by the Levites. Jesus is the only SINLESS one who was zealous for God and made atonement. (vs. 13)
Both the name of the Israelite and the Midianite woman were named in this chapter. Perhaps they are so pointed out because maybe the Israelite thought that He could worship YHWH in the same manner as the Moabites worshipped Baal. God hated this severely. The Israelite was the prince (son) of the chief of the tribe of Simeon. The Midianite woman was the daughter of the head over the people of Midian, of a chief house of the Midianites. Both were people of prominence. They may have been involved at the first of this adultery/idolatry and led others to follow. They were bold and brazen in their outward display of such debauchery. So, God made a them an example before the people by stirring Phinehas to slay them both at once.
...cont.
God knew all along what Balak and Balaam would try to do to the Israelites and how Israelites would break His covenant. Nothing came as a surprise to God. He cannot be fooled. He also cannot go back on His word once declared. God brought punishment upon Israel by telling Moses to hang all of the leaders (heads) of the tribes publicly so that all of the Israelites would see how YHWH punished them for not leading a resistance to the advances of the Moabites and/or participated in the sexual immorality and idolatry with the Moabite women. Also, Moses instructed the judges of Israel to slay every man that participated in these incidents, having joined themselves to Baal through their acts of worship which included sexual forms of worship.
Israel was to be joined to YHWH, as a woman is joined to her husband. Just as fidelity in marriage is expected, so did YHWH expect Israel to refuse to worship any idol/false god. They were not to be joined to YHWH in covenant and also joined to any idol/false god through worshipping these, especially in sexual ways. Baal was the god of fertility, so this immorality was to entice Baal to bring fruitfulness of the womb and fields for the people. These feasts/sacrifices/orgies were celebrated out in the open before the idol set up in the groves of trees or on the mountain tops. 24,000 Israelite men were slain that day, either by the Moses, judges, or the plague that God sent into the camp.
Many Israelites seemed to be remorseful and came before the door of the tent of meeting weeping before the LORD.
One Israelite rashly brought a Midianite woman (apparently the Midianites were traveling among the Moabites at the time, since they were nomadic) before these people, flaunting her before the tent of meeting in the site of Moses and Phineas, son of Eleazar..
Phineas went after the two and thrust a spear through the man and woman in one thrust, killing them both. ...cont.