Monday: Baal Peor
In Deuteronomy 4.3-4, the children of Israel are given a bit more of a history lesson, to function as a reminder of the past and of whatever spiritual and practical truths that they ideally should learn from it.
Read Numbers 25:1-15. What happened, and what spiritual and practical truths should the people have taken from this fiasco?
Image © The Classic Bible Art Collection – Formerly Standard Publishing at Goodsalt.com
However uncomfortable we are with the stories of Israel’s wiping out some of the pagan nations around them, this account certainly helps in explaining the logic behind the command. Israel was to be a witness to the pagan nations around them of the true God — the only God. They were to be an example to show what worship of the true God was like. Instead, by adhering to the pagan “gods” around them, they often fell into outright rebellion against the very God whom they were to represent to the world.
Though the phrase to “commit harlotry” often has a spiritual meaning, in that Israel went after pagan gods and practices (see Hosea 4:12-14), in this case the language (and the rest of the story) suggests that there was sexual sinning, at least at first. Here again, Satan took advantage of fallen human nature, using the pagan women to seduce the men, who obviously allowed themselves to be seduced.
No doubt, the act of physical harlotry degenerated into spiritual harlotry, as well. The people involved eventually got caught up in pagan worship practices in which Israel was “joined to Baal of Peor;” that is, they somehow became attached to this false god and even sacrificed to it. Despite everything they had been taught and told, they were willing to throw it all away in the heat of passion and lust.
How could this have happened? Easily. By hardening their consciences with the first sin, the physical one, they were ripe for falling into the latter one, the spiritual one, which must have been Satan’s ultimate goal. They had become so debased that, according to the text, one man brought his Midianite woman right into the camp itself, right before Moses, and before the people who were weeping outside the tabernacle.
| Our minds and bodies are intimately linked. What affects one affects the other. What can we learn from this story about how dangerous the indulgence can be to us spiritually? |
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We live in a world where sexual intimacy has become a commodity. It invades our language and culture. Much of what passes as comedy is quite smutty, commercial advertising is often suggestive, and even the names of some of our clothes have an innuendo. The experience of the Hebrews with the Moabite seduction is repeated frequently in our modern environment. Should we be going out with javelins to tackle the problem?
I am reminded that the Bible has an appropriate answer for our time:
It is not just a case of avoiding the things that seduce our mind. We should fill our minds with those things that God recommends. An empty mind quickly fills with what is in easy reach.
I love that passage in Phillipians 4:1-8. It is a great reminder even though all around us are inappropriate images, songs at an ever-increasing rate.
Today's lesson suggests that Israel's physical sin led to their spiritual sin. However, I would propose that their poor spiritual state is what led Israel to indulge themselves in the activities they were engaged in. Our spiritual and physical dimensions are so interlinked, they are inseparable.
Like Maurice has mentioned, if our spiritual state is lacking, we become like a vacuum that, by default, sucks in anything and everything around it in an effort to fill the empty space.
This is why being intentional about seeking first the Kingdom of God each day (and more often if needed) is not merely an option if we want to be about the Kingdom of God - it is our essential necessity (Matthew 6:33).
Are you intentionally seeking the Kingdom of God today or is there a vacuum inside you that makes you vulnerable to merely sucking in whatever impulse comes across your path or is served up to you? While you are completely free to choose one way or the other, unfortunately you will not be able to avoid the inherent consequences of your choice.
I agree, "it is our essential necessity", out of love for God we do His will, by choice. This explains James contention that we need to be doers of the word not just hearers of the word, and further goes on to say faith without works is dead.
I am so glad you pointed out earlier the quote in. DA 480.3.
I would like to add DA 175.4.
The only thing we can do is lay hold upon Christ, which is seeking 1st the kingdom of God daily "Not optional, but a essential necessity." Amen! Then sin becomes rubbish, by the spiritual armor we have allowed Christ to put on us. Even for the overcoming spoken of in. Revelation 21:7. Christ gives us the power.
Phillipians 3:8. Ephesians 6:11. 2Corinthians 12:9.
Now our minds and bodies are intemately linked to produce good fruits, the fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22. (The fruits of the Spirit are in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.)
Is the key to all of this based on that we must learn to let go of our past? It seems that we cannot advance until we do this. I found the following in the Ministry of Healing.
The Ministry of Healing, 455-457
Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.—2 Corinthians 1:9.
The thoughts must be centered upon God. We must put forth earnest effort to overcome the evil tendencies of the natural heart. Our efforts, our self-denial and perseverance, must be proportionate to the infinite value of the object of which we are in pursuit. Only by overcoming as Christ overcame shall we win the crown of life.
Our great danger is in being self-deceived, indulging self-sufficiency, and thus separating from God, the source of our strength. Our natural tendencies, unless corrected by the Holy Spirit of God, have in them the seeds of moral death. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we cannot resist the unhallowed effects of self-indulgence, self-love, and temptation to sin.
In order to receive help from Christ, we must realize our need. We must have a true knowledge of ourselves. It is only those who know themselves to be sinners that Christ can save. Only as we see our utter helplessness and renounce all self-trust, shall we lay hold on divine power.
It is not only at the beginning of the Christian life that this renunciation of self is to be made. At every advance step heavenward it is to be renewed. All our good works are dependent on a power outside of ourselves; therefore there needs to be a continual reaching out of the heart after God, a constant, earnest confession of sin and humbling of the soul before Him. Perils surround us; and we are safe only as we feel our weakness and cling with the grasp of faith to our mighty Deliverer.
We must turn away from a thousand topics that invite attention. There are matters that consume time and arouse inquiry, but end in nothing. The highest interests demand the close attention and energy that are so often given to comparatively insignificant things. . . .
The knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ expressed in character is an exaltation above everything else that is esteemed on earth or in heaven. It is the very highest education. It is the key that opens the portals of the heavenly city. This knowledge it is God’s purpose that all who put on Christ shall possess
In order to receive help from Christ, we must realize our need. We must have a true knowledge of ourselves. It is only those who know themselves to be sinners that Christ can save. Only as we see our utter helplessness and renounce all self-trust, shall we lay hold on divine power.
What I find intriguing is how often the accusation against Israel is not so much that they broke a law like "don't commit adultery" but that they turned to worshipping "images" who they thought represented powerful gods who controlled the weather and fertility.
Repeatedly the Word of the LORD reminds them that those are only man made images without any power!
It seems to be human nature to prefer something or someone they can see rather than the spiritual unseen God.
I believe that the LORD's plan has always been that the world will see His Character reflected in His true followers. Sadly like Israel at Baal-Peor the devil is seducing the LORD's people to misrepresent the LORD.
Present Truth: "image" worship remains a problem right until the end of time - see the sixth trumpet!
Deut 4:23-28
23Be careful that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God that He made with you; do not make an idol for yourselves in the form of anything He has forbidden you. 24For the LORD your God is a consuming fire,a jealous God... 27Then the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you. 28And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.
Revelation 9:20
Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.
These days the prevailing "images" are presented to us by the media. Even people who don't have TV will often have a cell phone with WiFi, even in poor countries. We carry in our pockets the means of others' influence over us. Many people believe much of what they see online, or they slowly begin to absorb belief systems that are not godly because of what they watch or listen to. As Maurice wrote, let us fill out minds with only good things and cast off those things which do not follow godly principles, even for "entertainment". Satan seeks to entrap us by any means possible, so we must be aware of the influence of what goes into our minds.
The wicked “daughters of Moab” seduced Hebrew men into immorality and idolatry, costing 24,000 people their lives. Moabites were so evil in the eyes of God that they were among the few people He said could never be admitted into the congregation of Israel. The instigator of this sad situation was Balaam
Seductive DRESSING is an area of immorality that is slipping into the camp. Tight and revealing dress has become the norm in many parts of the world even for church worship. Where are the Phinehas' when we need them?
Perhaps the main lesson from this episode is not about dressing but about focus. If there is a problem with a car engine, you don't just look at the paint work on the outside of the car, even if it is tatty. You work on the engine itself.
Today we cannot use the Phinehas solution, obviously, but we can draw the focus of the people away from the enticements of the world, towards that which I mentioned in my original comment. Playing the blame game in the area of dressing and sexual sin often leads to misunderstanding. Far too many people have railed against sins of this nature until their vision is blurred and they end up committing the very sins they were preaching against. The little song:
... should be our focus changer, by the way we live.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
John 8:7 KJV
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Matthew 10:16 KJV
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Matthew 18:15-17 KJV
The story of Joseph came to mind when reading this. He literally turned and ran. The men of Israel needed to do just that. I need to do that with any temptation that comes my way.
Here in Australia of recent there have been some headline news items relating to sexual harassment and sexual assaults. In response to this, some women have been 'counselled' to be careful how they dress within the workplace so they don't tempt men. Understandably there has been reaction against this view that unfortunately gives support to the notion that 'men can't help themselves' and so the issue is for the women to be more responsible.
In reflecting upon this, my mind goes to the incident where Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph (Genesis 39:6,7). And Joseph realised it was his responsibility to exercise self-control and not allow himself to be seduced (Genesis 39:8,9). He drew strength to maintain this self-control from having practiced devotion to God no matter what (loving God with all his heart and soul and strength - and having a self-denying rather than self-indulging attitude towards others).
As a male, I take a stand to say that it is up to each and every one of us as men to develop, practice and maintain sexual self-control (as well as self-control in all other areas) - as a fruit of the Spirit. Regardless of how a woman dresses, it is up to us to follow the example set by Joseph and put our allegiance to God ahead of impulses to indulge ourselves otherwise. The example of Job 31:1 is also a useful practice to follow - applying this principle to how we look at any woman, not just a virgin.
4 stories of temptation, all involving appetite, came to mind. Eve, Joseph, Daniel and Jesus. Eves very first temptation involved “food that was good to eat”. I understand that this was about more than food, but if she had turned and run, as Joseph did, what a different life we would be living. Joseph, Daniel and his 3 friends couldn’t run, they had to take a stand, and so they did. Resisting that woman/food, gave them the strength to keep taking a stand for their beliefs, and look how God, through Joseph & Daniel, blessed so many. Jesus, being weakened from 40 days of fasting, didn’t have the strength to run, but he didn’t argue with the father of lies, he answered with scripture and a firm NO. These stories show me that in every situation, if we choose God, He will give us a way out. We do not have to fall to temptation. Can I be sinless? Not in this life. But I can resist temptation, if I believe what scripture tells me. Jude 24 promises that.
What a good reminder for everyone. Amen to that. As a married man and inclined in God's love, I use not to look women beyond, I just say to myself " you are not my wife,that God gave to me".