Gleanings from the Pentateuch

Balaam’s Revenge:Apostasy at Peor

Numbers 25

KadeshBarnea

E d o m

Moab

Bashan

Am

mor

ites

Am

mo

n

CA

NA

AN

Jericho

Zered

Arnon

Jabbok

Mt Hor

Apostasy at Peor

1. Israel’s Sin

• Immorality – with the cult prostitutes of Moab/Midian

• Idolatry – “joined themselves to Baal”

This is a precursor to Israel’s ultimate downfall as a nation through idolatry

Apostasy at Peor

2. God’s Response

• God sent a deadly plague among the people

• God commanded Moses to execute the leaders and publicly expose their corpses in order to

turn way His anger

“He was angry” – His “jealous” wrath

Apostasy at Peor

3. Phinehas’ Intervention

• Through his decisive action, which displayed God’s jealousy, he turned away God’s anger

• God in turn established the priesthood of Phinehas perpetually

Apostasy at Peor

4. Balaam’s Trickery

• The affair at Peor was a deliberate seduction and deception by the Midianites

• This was done through the counsel of Balaam (Numbers 31:16; Revelation 2:14)

“Balaam’s revenge” is short-lived – he is destroyed and God’s promise/blessing continues

Apostasy at Peor

Application

1. The character of God

• His “anger” – perfect hatred of sin/idolatry, which issues forth in His judgment

• His mercy – provision for the vindication of His righteousness that “turns away” His wrath

Phinehas is a type of Jesus, our High Priest

Apostasy at Peor

Application

2. Personal Exhortation

• Flee immorality – it is a gateway to idolatry

• Flee idolatry – as those belonging exclusively to God

• Imitate Phinehas – a jealousy for God’s name