The Zeal of Phinehas
Numbers 25:1-18
INTRODUCTION: Man, in his dealings with the faults and sins of others, usually falls to one of two extremes. He either over-condemns or he over-tolerates. We either condemn like a Pharisee or allow anything like the Corinthians. Phinehas was a man who knew when a stand had to be taken. His zeal was well-placed. We should learn from the zeal of Phinehas.
I. THE LEGACY OF BALAAM (25:1-3)
A. The Sins of Israel (v.1-3)
NOTE: They are in Shittim (v.1). This their last camp before going into the promised land (Josh.2:1; 3:1). How easy it is for us to be at the door of victory and still mess up in rebellion and disobedience. We must stay ever vigilant (1Pet.5:8) to avoid the pitfalls of sin and the wiles of the devil.
1. Fornication (v.1; 1Cor.10:8)
2. Idolatry (v.2-3; Ps.106:28-30)
a. They ate (v.2; Ps.106:28)
b. They bowed (v.2; Ex.23:24)
c. They joined (v.3; Hos.4:17); the phrasing shows that idolatry is spiritual fornication. They “joined” to Baal as a man and woman join in marriage (Mt.19:5-6) or as a fornicator is “joined to an harlot” (1Cor.6:16). To serve a false god is to commit spiritual whoredom against God (Lev.20:5; Ezek.23:7; Hos.4:12-13).
NOTE: Here and in other places (Ex.34:14-16), fornication (a sin of the flesh) leads to idolatry (a sin of the spirit). The order is important. Many think that fleshly sins are not really that important. But sins of the flesh lead to spiritual sins. That is how Solomon fell into idolatry (1Kgs.11:1-8). God’s final judgment is that “their abominations were according as they loved” (Hos.9:10). That is, their love of fleshly pleasures led them to deny God Himself and serve Baal. How careful we need to be!
B. The Counsel of Balaam (Num.31:14-16); from this passage we learn that though Balaam was denied a chance to curse Israel, he was ready to counsel the Midianites on how to seduce them so that God Himself would turn on them. No wonder he is such a hated character in the New Testament.
C. The New Testament Testimony; there are three New Testament references to Balaam
1. The way of Balaam (2Pet.2:15); his way is a way of unrighteousness; it is a way that follows the lusts of the flesh and the desire for personal gain.
2. The error of Balaam (Jude 11); the error of Balaam is that he worked for reward and not for God; even when he did right, he did it as an hireling and not as a true servant of God.
3. The doctrine of Balaam (Rev.2:14); his doctrine was to do whatever he could to bring about the results he desired; he opposed God and right and resorted to deceit and wickedness; anything goes in achieving his desired end
II. THE JUDGMENT OF THE PEOPLE (25:4-5)
A. The Rebel Leaders to be Hung (v.4); the curse of being hung on a tree (Deut.21:22-23; Gal.3:13)
B. The Followers of Baal to be Slain (v.5; 1Kgs.18:40)
III. THE ZEAL OF PHINEHAS (25:6-9)
A. The Blatant Sin of Zimri and Cozbi (v.6)
1. An open sin – “in the sight” (Jer.8:12)
2. A presumptuous sin (Num.15:30-31)
B. The Quick Action of Phinehas (v.7-8a; cp.Num.16:44-48)
NOTE: Man has a problem with his “belly.” In scripture, the belly pictures man’s most selfish desires. Those who do not serve Christ, serve “their own belly” (Rom.16:18). Paul warns of those whose “God is their belly” (Phil.3:19). So, it only makes sense that Cozbi was thrust through with the javelin in her belly. Who else in the bible died by being stabbed in his belly? (see Judges 3).
C. The Ending and Effects of the Plague (v.8b-9); these are also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:8. Numbers mentions 24,000 while 1 Corinthians mentions only 23,000. The Bible is not wrong. Corinthians mentions 23,000 who died “in one day.” The problems obviously started earlier with the death of the leaders of the idolatry (Num.25:4). Their deaths brought the total number up to 24,000.
IV. THE REWARD OF PHINEHAS (25:10-13)
A. His Zeal for God Recognized (v.10-11; Tit.2:14; cp.2Kgs.10:16-17)
B. His Reward of the Covenant of Peace (v.12; cp.Mal.2:4-6)
C. His Promise of an Everlasting Priesthood (v.13); other lines die, but the line of Phinehas continues on (1Kgs.2:27, 35; 1Chr.6:4-15; Ezek.48:11)
V. THE JUDGMENT OF THE MIDIANITES (25:14-18)
A. The Identity of the Guilty Couple (v.14-15); a prince and a princess who thought they could get by with anything
B. The Command to Smite the Midianites (v.16-17; Num.31:1-16)
C. The Cause of God’s Judgment on Midian (v.18)
1. They vexed the Israelites (2Pet.2:7-8)
2. They beguiled the Israelites (Gen.3:13; 2Cor.11:3)
CONCLUSION: The wiles of Balaam and the Midianites should remind us of the wiles of the devil (Eph.6:11). By God’s grace, we should be able to stand against these wiles. Sometimes, it takes the zeal of Phinehas. Are you zealous for your Lord?
MEMORY VERSES:
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11
“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.” Jude 1:11
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14
By David F. Reagan
Copyright © 2002
Antioch Baptist Church Knoxville, Tennessee