Warning Sign

Day 30:  Numbers 24–27; Psalms 133–138; John 16–18

I am making progress! I am now one third of the way through reading the Bible in my 90 day journey.  I feel grateful to those who have encouraged me and are praying for me and reading along with me.  I am grateful for the example of the biblical characters.  They journey toward promise as do I.

The people of Israel reach a crucial point tin their journey.  They are encamped at Shittim in an Acacia Grove (the wood the Ark of the Covenant is made from (Ex. 25:10)) across the Jordan River from Jericho. This is the very spot where Joshua will lead the people into the Promised Land and take down Jericho and other cities and take possession of Canaan.  At this place great sin occurs and a new chapter is alluded to.

Some of the Israelites are seduced into pagan worship with Moabites/Midianites.  The text is sort of unclear as to the distinction between Moab (a region?) and Midianites (a people?).  Their unfaithfulness came from the men having sex with Moabite women.  They lead the men to worship their cultic god Baal of Peor.  Remember that Ruth is a Moabite woman who becomes the ancestor of King David and later of Jesus.  It is always important to see how wide is God's mercy to the foreigner when they claim, "Your God will be my God (Ruth 1: 16)."  This unfaithfulness leads to God ordering Moses to have all the unfaithful men impaled for all to see.  This execution quenched the Lord's anger, but a plague began among the people because of their sin.

While Moses and Eleazer (the new High Priest, Aaron's son) were making atonement for Israel's sin, yet another abomination occurs.  The son of the Simionite tribal leader (Zimri) has sex with a Midianite tribal leader's daughter (Cozbi).  The way the text reads it is done blatantly and without shame in the midst of a repentant holy assembly.  I get the idea that Zimri thinks he is above the others.  Perhaps Cozbi did as well since their fathers were men with authority and status.  But Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron and son of the hig priest Eleazer, follows them into the man's tent and runs a spear through them both while they are in the act of sexual intercourse.  This zealous act is applauded by God as sharing God's zeal or jealousy.  God gives Phinehas and his descendants a covenant of peace.  They will be blessed with provision and protection always because of Phinehas' action.

In a sense the death of Zimir (meaning Celebrated) and Cozbi (meaning Slipping Away) was a sacrifice offered by Phinehas a priest which made atonement for the people (Num 25:13).  The plague against the Israelites ceased, but not before 24,000 of them died. 

I feel like I have to make excuses for God for such brutal vengeance.  I have to keep reminding myself that this is the Holy God, creator of the universe.  He is completely other than me a mere man.  I am a worm compared to God.  And yet this Holy God desires to make Himself known to His creatures, to enlighten our utter ignorance and lift us from the pig's wallow through revealing Himself in Israel His holy community.  Just as God made room for life to happen by creating a safe place amidst the chaotic waters He pushed back, God is creating a safe place for holy community, the community of life through obedience, amidst chaotic forces of pagan ignorance.  It will not do for the holy community to practice paganism or fornicate with the local pagans for they will be drawn away to worship false gods like Baal.  Like a doctor orders radiation treatment to kill of cancerous tumors, God's fiery wrath burns against the rebellious cancer of paganism amongst the body of Israel.

In a brief mention during the next census taken there on the east bank of the Jordan River Moses records this statement.

"The sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram.
(It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the community, who fought against Moses and Aaron; they and Korah's followers fought against the LORD.  The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them with Korah, when his followers died and the fire consumed 250 men.  They [serve as] a warning sign." (Num. 26:9-10)

Paul states the same about all the others who died in the Wilderness in those forty years of wandering from slavery to freedom as they learned to live as God's holy community (1 Cor. 10:5-6).   And life for the Christian is no different.

Jesus told His disciples that they would suffer persecution at the hands of the Jews.  They would be thrown out of the synagogue because of Him.   Their suffering though would become a sign to others.  Peter told the church to suffer for doing good so that those who slander the church might be ashamed (1 Pet. 3:13-17).  Jesus encouraged His apostles, "Take heart! I have overcome the world (Jn. 16:33)."

He then breaks into a lengthy prayer which is quite beautiful.  Jesus prays for God to glorify Himself through glorifying His Son on the cross.  He prays for the apostles that they might be protected from the evil one and be one with each other through love just as the Father and Son are one.  This unity is meant to be a sign to others.  Jesus prays for the future church, you and me.  He prays that we all may be one so that the world will believe (Jn. 17:23).

Just as Moses knows he is about to die and summons Joshua to take his place as the leader of Israel (Num. 27:15-23), Jesus knows He is about to go away through the cross back to His Father in heaven.  He prays for His successors promising the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help lead them into all truth.

A new chapter for Israel under Joshua will soon begin, but not just yet.  And a new chapter for the gestational church will soon begin, but not until the high priest judges Jesus and hands Him over to Pilate the Roman governor to be crucified. And not until Passover/Easter and Pentescost.  Only then will the church be ready to walk forward into promise.

The zeal of priests leads the slaughter of one opponent to the Lord and ends a plague on the people.  The great irony in Jesus Christ is that the Lord is visiting in Jesus and the zeal of priests leads to the slaughter of one supposed opponent to Israel's God and ends the plague of death forever.

Now let that be a warning sign to you!  :)