March 4

Numbers 23-25

When Phinehas kills Zimri and Kozbi, the Moabite, God praises him for sharing His zeal against the rampant sexual immorality the Israelite men were engaged in with Moabite woman who were leading these men into worship of false gods. A few things really stick out with this story. First, God is condoning premeditated murder. Second, Israel is once again following other gods. And, third, sexual immorality is running rampant.


The second and third help to explain the first. Along with that, we also read that God killed 24,000 Israelites for the same reason Phinehas killed. This does not give us license to run out and start killing those who are engaged in behavior that God doesn't like. Quite the contrary! Under the New Covenant we are to love the sinner while hating the sin. We will always have those who exalt something or someone above God. And, we will always have those who are engaged in sexual immorality. While we are not to condone these things, we are to demonstrate the love of Christ in convicting them of their sin, forgiving, and then helping them learn a better way.