PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Numbers 31-32
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“So that they may carry out the Lord’s vengeance on them.” (Numbers 31:2)
In light of what is happening in Palestine right now, this is very familiar.
Because of the sin of the Midian leaders (Hamas), all the people are being punished.
Israel is claiming ‘righteous anger’, or the ‘vengeance of the Lord’ (then and now?).
I have no idea how to solve the horror of what is happening in Israel/Palestine.
But I do know that vengeance and violence will not work, and it is NOT the God way.
I believe this story is God-breathed, but the violence and bloodshed are NOT God-breathed.
This story of horrific violence reveals how screwed up we are, not God.
“Moses permitted you to ___________ because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.” (Matthew 19:8)
(This refers to divorce, but I think it applies to all examples of un-God-like behaviour).
This story reveals why we need God’s help: we are a hard-hearted brood of sinners (32:14).
Jesus, not Moses, reveals what God is like “from the beginning.”
When God in Jesus comes, he does not come to execute justice, but to be executed.
Sadly, people today still prefer to follow the way of Moses over the way of Jesus.
PRAYER
Lord, we are a screwed up “brood of sinners”, forgive us for using you to justify doing what is NOT God-like. Have mercy on us, for we do not know what we are doing!
Ethnic cleansing of the Midianites. I know it was the punishment that God had judged for the them – but still it is irksome – as it is today. Whether it was the Nazis or the Russians or now the Israelis – it is not the way of peace – of God. Sure Hamas may stir up hatred and not care about the lives of Israelis or the risk to their own people – and vice versa for the Israelis – how can we get people to lay down arms? How can we get this out of the human psyche? It’s like God said after the flood [Gen. 821b] “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood.” Oh that we would all follow the way of Jesus – that we could establish mutual love for each other. Having brothers and sisters in the Lord from many nations helps me love all people and seem them as my real brothers and sisters. How then can I hate?? What I hate is evil! This ethnic cleansing is the result of evil and is evil! It is not God!
The battle belongs to the Lord – doing His will – and not our selfish desires. The people long ago followed the word of the Lord for they were in tune with Him. The spoils of their battles – portions were give to the Lord. As in all things, ‘first fruits’ were given to the Lord. They were doing God’s will. But today we follows our hearts desires. Not His. As in the days of Judges, mankind are doing what is right in their own eyes. Serving God is not part of their plan.
1 We give thee but thine own,
whate’er the gift may be;
all that we have is thine alone,
a trust, O Lord, from thee.
2 May we thy bounties thus
as stewards true receive
and gladly, as thou blessest us,
to thee our first fruits give.