25:1-3
Israel had escaped the threat from Balak. In fact, there had really never been any threat at all. However, the greater threat came from within. Whatever threats or danger we might seem to be facing, the biggest danger is our own sinfulness. And so it was for Israel. “The men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women”. This was expressly forbidden. The women invited the men to “sacrifice to their gods”, and the men went along with this, bowing down before the false gods. As is often the case, one sin leads to another. Sin very rarely travels alone. “So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and the Lord’s anger burned against them”. The oracles of Balaam pronounced nothing but strength and blessing on Israel, yet Israel preferred to worship an idol.
25:4,5
The Lord spoke to Moses, commanding him to have all the leaders who had led the people down this road, or let them go down that road, killed, and exposed in broad daylight. This was to serve as a warning to others that God takes sin very seriously. This would turn away the anger of the Lord. So Moses spoke to the judges of Israel that those who had yoked themselves to Baal were to be killed. 2 Cor 6:14 warns us against being unequally yoked. Today many treat this warning lightly. This is a very foolish thing to do. 1 Cor 10:6 tells us that the events of the Old Testament serve as a warning to us. We need to take the warnings seriously.
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