Once again we will read the lesson and feel frustrated with the actions of some of the Israelites. After all the miracles and undeserved forgiveness—they are at it again. They have reverted to idol worship. Our patient and loving God is ready to give His people over to themselves.
Numbers 25:4 (NIV)
“The LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD's fierce anger may turn away from Israel."
What are you thinking right about now? Is your heart and mind as exasperated as mine? Are you feeling as though these people never learn their lesson and perhaps never will? Me too. Reading a bit further we are witness to another grievous situation.
Numbers 25:6 (NIV)
“Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.”
It is almost as if some of the people were flaunting their will right in front of Moses, in the presence of God. While we might call this shameless, what do we call our own sin? Every time I fall back into an old habit that too is shameless. Sin is sin. My actions today grieve God the same as the Israelite’s did.
The lesson to be gained today is not so much how sin-filled we are, but how forgiving God is. Time after time we turn to other things, other gods, for momentary happiness or fulfillment. Time after time, when we repent, “God, who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Read Numbers 25 here
Listen to Numbers 25 here
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