One of the big questions in our Torah portion today was,
“What is your motivation in what you do for the Lord?”
Let’s take another look at why Pinchas received a covenant of peace for, as Pastor Mark says, “shishkabobbing” two people!
Exodus 6:25 And Eleazar, Aaron’s son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas.
1. What was Eleazar’s position as Aaron’s son?
2. Putiel is one of the names of Moses’ father in law. He was a Midianite. Did Eleazar marry a Midianite?
3. To whom did this Midianite woman give birth? So we see that Phineas is ½ Midianite blood.
Numbers 25:1,2 While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2 who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods.
1. How was the enemy coming into Israel?
Numbers 25:4-6 The Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the Lord’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”5 So Moses said to Israel’s judges, “Each of you must put to death those of your people who have yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor.”6 Then an Israelite man brought into the camp a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
1. Describe the LORD’S reaction to what is taking place. What did He want done with the leaders?
2. What did Moses tell the judges?
3. Right in the middle of all of this, what did an Israelite man do?
Numbers 25:7-9 When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand 8 and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear into both of them, right through the Israelite man and into the woman’s stomach. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; 9 but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.
1. What was the result of Phineas’ action? Is this surprising? Remember what the LORD had said to do with the leaders?
Numbers 25:10-13 10 The Lord said to Moses, 11 “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal. 12 Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. 13 He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.”
1. Why did God say Phineas’ actions had turned His anger away from the Israelites?
2. Phineas’ actions also had significant outcome for the Israelites. What were two outcomes?
When we do something for the LORD, how do our motivations compart to those of Phineas?
In conclusion we ask ourselves, do we act for our own benefit, to look good in front of others, to have a position of power or prestige, or any other reason? Or is our sole motivation the HONOR of GOD – WITH KNOWLEDGE OF HIS COMMANDS? Are we willing to go into ACTION to bring honor to God? It is always good to examine our hearts!
PSALM 139:23 SEARCH ME O, GOD AND KNOW MY HEART……..
