Daily Bible Portion (Sunday)
Daily Bible Portion – 1 of 7
"PHINEHAS"
(Weekly Reading>>Numbers 25:10 to 29:40,1 Kings 18:46 to 19:21,Colossians 2:8 to -4:6, Matthew 26:1-30, John 2:13-22, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8)
The Next Generation – Pagan Idolatry
At this point in our readings the Children of Israel have been in the wilderness forty years. The first generation that left Egypt has passed away. We are now seeing the next generation along with Caleb and Joshua and their families about to enter the Promised Land. This study is a continuation from the last study "Destroyer" where we found that the spirit of Balaam had infiltrated Israel’s camp by means of Moabite women beguiling the men of Israel.
How did this happen? Testings are important. During trials do we make decisions based on our emotions or do we pray and seek the Torah principle that applies to the situation before we make a decision? Trials are not pleasant at the time but they can foster and encourage believers to see where their faith is and what it is based on. As the Israelites came closer to their destination the trials increased. Esau’s family, Jacob’s twin brother, refused Israel passage. This forced them to journey around so as not to disturb the Edomite’s heritage. When Israel camped beside Moab, the Israelites soon fell prey to enticement.
These Israelite men had no business meeting with foreign women outside the camp. By falling into temptation they became vulnerable toward ungodly influences. Scripture records that the Israelite men joined the Moabite women in a sacrifice to their pagan gods before bowing down to worship them (Numbers 25:1-3).
This same temptation can ensnare the Bride of Jesus today if he or she does not heed Torah instructions. Believers need to safeguard and strengthen the faith they have been given in Christ. Our spirits have been redeemed thereby giving us all the tools we need spiritually to sanctify our soul/hearts, but the choice to use these rests entirely in our hands.
The believer’s soul hosts emotions, decisions and freewill. For the soul to run smoothly and be in balance with the Holy Spirit, Yahweh’s moral order, called holiness, needs to line the believer’s spirit/heart up with the order and pattern of the heavenly tabernacle. The instructions to do this are written on the heart of the believer.
God allows tests to help us see where we are in His purpose for our lives and if we have missed the mark (Leviticus 26:14:35). A challenge builds courage and forms Christ’s faith and character in our lives. When we are challenged physically, emotionally or morally it is usually because something in our lives needs to be strengthened so that our nature and lifestyle can more purely reflect the nature and characteristics of our Maker. It is our job to bring our soul into pursuing the order and plan of Yahweh’s Kingdom to …
The Israelite men were beguiled by the Moabite women and went into whoredom. They had not strengthened themselves nor guarded over their hearts and it cost them their lives. Testing the people before they entered into the land was crucial at this stage of their journey as it is for every generation after them - ours included.
Satan was allowed to test Job. God also allowed the Moabite jealousy to prevail through an invasion of the camp. The first attempt was through Balak king of the Moabites who failed in using Balaam to curse the Israelites, as only blessings came forth. This second was an attempt by the Moabites to destroy Israel through the lust of the eye. With Israel’s unguarded hearts, the door was left wide opened for the Moabite women to charm the Israelite men. Through beguilement their fleshly desires were captivated and the invasion of the Israeli camp began. The Moabite goal was for the Israelite people to lose their relationship with Yahweh thereby breaking their Marriage Covenant. The Moab’s hoped Israel would fail to gain their inheritance thus annihilate Israel and at the same time protect their property and hopefully gain Israel’s allotted land in the process.
continues tomorrow...
"PHINEHAS"
(Weekly Reading>>Numbers 25:10 to 29:40,1 Kings 18:46 to 19:21,Colossians 2:8 to -4:6, Matthew 26:1-30, John 2:13-22, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8)
The Next Generation – Pagan Idolatry
At this point in our readings the Children of Israel have been in the wilderness forty years. The first generation that left Egypt has passed away. We are now seeing the next generation along with Caleb and Joshua and their families about to enter the Promised Land. This study is a continuation from the last study "Destroyer" where we found that the spirit of Balaam had infiltrated Israel’s camp by means of Moabite women beguiling the men of Israel.
How did this happen? Testings are important. During trials do we make decisions based on our emotions or do we pray and seek the Torah principle that applies to the situation before we make a decision? Trials are not pleasant at the time but they can foster and encourage believers to see where their faith is and what it is based on. As the Israelites came closer to their destination the trials increased. Esau’s family, Jacob’s twin brother, refused Israel passage. This forced them to journey around so as not to disturb the Edomite’s heritage. When Israel camped beside Moab, the Israelites soon fell prey to enticement.
Numbers 25:1-3 “the people [Israel] began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD/Yahweh was aroused against Israel.”
Psalm 106:28 “They [Israel] joined themselves also to Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices made to the dead.”
These Israelite men had no business meeting with foreign women outside the camp. By falling into temptation they became vulnerable toward ungodly influences. Scripture records that the Israelite men joined the Moabite women in a sacrifice to their pagan gods before bowing down to worship them (Numbers 25:1-3).
Isaiah 66:17 “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, to go to the gardens after an idol in the midst, eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed together, says Yahweh.”
Hosea 9:10 “I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal Peor, and separated themselves to that shame; they became an abomination like the thing they loved.”
This same temptation can ensnare the Bride of Jesus today if he or she does not heed Torah instructions. Believers need to safeguard and strengthen the faith they have been given in Christ. Our spirits have been redeemed thereby giving us all the tools we need spiritually to sanctify our soul/hearts, but the choice to use these rests entirely in our hands.
The believer’s soul hosts emotions, decisions and freewill. For the soul to run smoothly and be in balance with the Holy Spirit, Yahweh’s moral order, called holiness, needs to line the believer’s spirit/heart up with the order and pattern of the heavenly tabernacle. The instructions to do this are written on the heart of the believer.
Deuteronomy 30:14-16 “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD/Yahweh your God/Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD/Yahweh your God/Elohim will bless you in the land which you go to possess.”
Matthew 6:9-13 “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
God allows tests to help us see where we are in His purpose for our lives and if we have missed the mark (Leviticus 26:14:35). A challenge builds courage and forms Christ’s faith and character in our lives. When we are challenged physically, emotionally or morally it is usually because something in our lives needs to be strengthened so that our nature and lifestyle can more purely reflect the nature and characteristics of our Maker. It is our job to bring our soul into pursuing the order and plan of Yahweh’s Kingdom to …
“Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
The Israelite men were beguiled by the Moabite women and went into whoredom. They had not strengthened themselves nor guarded over their hearts and it cost them their lives. Testing the people before they entered into the land was crucial at this stage of their journey as it is for every generation after them - ours included.
Proverbs 2:10-22 “When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked; whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths; to deliver you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words, who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God. For her house leads down to death, and her paths to the dead; none who go in to her return, nor do they regain the paths of life - So you may walk in the way of goodness, and keep to the paths of righteousness. For the upright will dwell in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.”
Satan was allowed to test Job. God also allowed the Moabite jealousy to prevail through an invasion of the camp. The first attempt was through Balak king of the Moabites who failed in using Balaam to curse the Israelites, as only blessings came forth. This second was an attempt by the Moabites to destroy Israel through the lust of the eye. With Israel’s unguarded hearts, the door was left wide opened for the Moabite women to charm the Israelite men. Through beguilement their fleshly desires were captivated and the invasion of the Israeli camp began. The Moabite goal was for the Israelite people to lose their relationship with Yahweh thereby breaking their Marriage Covenant. The Moab’s hoped Israel would fail to gain their inheritance thus annihilate Israel and at the same time protect their property and hopefully gain Israel’s allotted land in the process.
Mark 7:21-23 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
James 1:19-22 “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Psalms 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the Torah of the LORD.
continues tomorrow...