Took me two weeks to write again.. Have to admit that I didn’t know how to react to this chapter. I’ve read some commentary that made sense, but still..

“Avenge the people of Israel… execute the Lord’s vengeance on Midian” > the people have been wronged, and worse, God was wronged.

All the men of Midian died in battle. The women, the Israelite soldiers kept alive – which made Moses angry. 

Behold, these, on Balaam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the Lord. (‭Numbers‬ ‭31‬:‭16‬ ESV)

After this, was the command that rattled me. It was harsh. Why?

Some clues.. after this, the men were considered unclean and were commanded to stay outside the camp and purify themselves.

There were other specific commands, and the Israelites obeyed. Then something amazing was reported:

[The officers] said to Moses, “Your servants have counted the men of war who are under our command, and there is not a man missing from us. (‭Numbers‬ ‭31‬:‭49‬ ESV)

Not a man missing. Out of the 12,000. Whereas all the Midianite men died.

What was the “incident at Peor”? That it had to come to this?

The answer we can find in Revelation 2:14. Apparently Balaam of Numbers 22-24 wasn’t the good guy that we thought he would turn out to be. Even after his experience with God, he still gave advice to Balak on how to defeat the Israelites. He knew that the way for Israelites to lose favor with God is to cause, to tempt, them to sin. And that’s the background story of Numbers 25.

Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. (‭Psalm‬ ‭145‬:‭2‬ ESV)

Every day. 

One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. (‭Psalm‬ ‭145‬:‭4‬ ESV)

Recently I felt overwhelmed with the current problems of the world, especially in my country of birth and my country of residence. I am anxious for my family, my son especially, with the danger, temptations and sin that seem to be everywhere. 

But then I get encouraged. In the midst of these problems, God is moving. In families, people are passing on their faith journeys from one generation to another. In my own family particularly, by God’s grace, we are blessed to be part of a generation of believers — and I intend to pass it on. In spiritual families as well, from generation to generation we see God’s faithfulness. There is hope. Greater things are yet to come. 

The rest of the Psalm is a very good list of some of the qualities of God that can be taught to the next generation.

Timothy’s mission: to remain and be “in charge” of the Church of Ephesus

Charge: to instruct, command, warn, admonish

That which we devote our time with when we are with believers, we must ask ourselves, what does it promote? Does it promote speculations or vain discussions? Or does it promote love?

Love is a natural byproduct – of a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. We have to check ourselves.

Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. (‭1 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭6-7‬ ESV)

On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. (‭Obadiah‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ ESV)

Inaction – to stand aloof when injustice is being done to your brothers – is seen by God as violence. Be on God’s side.

For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. (‭Obadiah‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬ ESV)

Power, Possessions, Achievements, Strong Allies, (human) wisdom – the pride of our hearts can deceive us into thinking that we have things under our control. But we don’t. God is so much more powerful. Nations and governments rise and fall, according to His word. Through good or bad, our hope should be in the Lord.

“This is what the Lord commands: When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said. (‭Numbers‬ ‭30‬:‭1b-2‬ NIV)

There we go – I will keep my word, not just for my own integrity, but because my God commands it. Can’t get any clearer than this.

Wives seem to have it easier when it comes to (rash) promises made – because the husband is able to nullify it. God has given the responsibility to the husband. Silence means yes, in this case. Delayed response means yes as well – and the husband bears the consequences of the vows made.