Dec5-11: Immorality on the Border

Teaching Points

1. Read Numbers 25:1–3. What were the steps involved here in this apostasy?

ANSWER: 

• Num. 25:1 “abode” – Among many Hebrew meanings for “abode”, there is one that caught my attention: “ease self”
• Num. 25:2 “called” – “invited” to heathen festival (Ventured upon the forbidden ground)
• Num. 25:2 “eat” – “consume” (United in mirth and feasting…broke down the barriers of self-control)
• Num. 25:1 “whoredom” – “to commit adultery” (Passion took over)
• Num. 25:2 “bowed down” – “worship” (Idolatry)
• Num. 25:3 “joined” – “fasten” (No turning back)

SOP SUPPORT FOR THE ORDER OF APOSTASY: 

• “At Balaam’s suggestion, a grand festival in honor of their gods was appointed by the king of Moab, and it was secretly arranged that Balaam should induce the Israelites to attend. He was regarded by them as a prophet of God, and hence had little difficulty in accomplishing his purpose. Great numbers of the people joined him in witnessing the festivities. They ventured upon the forbidden ground, and were entangled in the snare of Satan. Beguiled with music and dancing, and allured by the beauty of heathen vestals, they cast off their fealty to Jehovah. As they united in mirth and feasting, indulgence in wine beclouded their senses and broke down the barriers of self-control. Passion had full sway; and having defiled their consciences by lewdness, they were persuaded to bow down to idols. They offered sacrifice upon heathen altars and participated in the most degrading rites.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 454.

APPLICATION QUESTION: 

• How could we turn down “friendly invitations” that are dangerous?

2. Read Revelation 2:14 and Numbers 31:16. What insight do they give us into what was going on here with Israel at Shittim?

ANSWER: 

• Num. 31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

PROPHECTIC OBSERVATION: 

• In the beginning Balak was telling Balaam what to do but it did not work.
• Then later Balaam was telling Balak what to do and then it worked.
• Rev. 2:14 is talking about how Balaam was telling Balak what to do.
• If Balaam represents a religious power and Balak represents a political power then Rev. 2:14 is talking about when the church starts to have influence over the state which prepared the way for the arise of Papacy. 
• When Constantine became “Christian”, the state had the power over the church; but when the Papacy was established, the church had power over the state.
• The doctrine of Balaam caused God’s people to “to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”
• The doctrine of Balaam sounds like the characteristics of spiritual Babylon in Revelation. Rev. 14:8 “drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” Rev. 14:9 “worship the beast and his image”

APPLICATION: 

• What is the “doctrine of Balaam” for the end time?

3. Read Numbers 25:6–18. How do we understand what was going on here? What lessons can we take away from this story?

ANSWER: 

• Open sin was dealt openly.

OBSERVATION: 

• “Though the text doesn’t come out and explicitly say it, one could read into the text that the Israelite man, Zimri, was having a sexual relationship with the woman when Phinehas came into the tent and thrust his javelin through them both. However harsh all this might seem, think about the circumstances. The whole camp is weeping and pleading with the Lord because of what was happening, and this man—so audacious and open in his sin—brings this Midianite woman into the camp before all of them and then takes her into the tent and has sexual relations with her. All the while a plague is ravaging the camp! What made it even worse was that Zimri came from a house of princes; that is, he was part of royal stock and thus should have known better. He must have been so deceived, so consumed with lust, that the sight of the camp weeping before the tabernacle didn’t slow him down at all.” SSL p. 92
• “All through the Bible, we see examples of how sin clouds the reasoning powers and leads people to do some of the most unthinkable and irrational things. Think of Cain, of David with Bathsheba, of Judas betraying Jesus. No wonder the Bible, time and again, warns us against sin. It’s not that God can’t forgive our sin; it’s that the sin can so warp us that we can get to the point that we don’t even see it as sin any longer.” SSL p. 92

4. Read Numbers 31, the story of the destruction of the Midianites. What are some of the hard things in this account that make it difficult for us to understand today?

ANSWER: 

• I have to say that this is one of those difficult chapters in the Bible. I can think of different ways to deal with Midianites but I have to trust that what God has done was just. 

OBSERVATION: 

• Is. 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Is. 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
• John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
• 1Cor. 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
• “After the terrible devastation at Shittim, the Lord commanded Israel to attack the Midianites, the ones who had—through their deceptions— brought such suffering to His people. Justice was going to be done. This particular branch of the Midianites had given themselves completely over to idolatry and all its attendant evils. Like the Amorites, this clan of Midian had ‘filled up the cup of their iniquity.’—Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, May 2, 1893. And the Lord decreed their destruction.” SSL p. 93

CONCLUSION: 

• God does show His anger towards open rebellion. Though we may not understand God’s harsh treatment toward the rebellious ones, we must believe that He does not cease to love the sinners.

APPLICATION QUESTION: 

• How do you feel about God when He does something that you just cannot understand?
• Do you still see the love of God when God seems harsh and fearful?