Jealousy

Jealousy

 

Numbers 25:1-18

 

 

When the Israelites stayed in Shittim, they prostituted themselves with the Moabite women and bowed down to their gods, which angered the Lord. So Moses orders the people involved in Baal-peor to be killed. While all the congregation of Israel were weeping at the door of the Tent of Meeting, Zimri of the Israelites brought Cozbi, a Midianite woman, and went into his tent. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron the priest, entered his tent and killed them, and the plague ceased. The Lord said to Moses, Phinehas was jealous with my jealousy, and turned away my anger from among the Israelites, so that my jealousy did not anger them. Therefore, the Lord establishes an eternal priestly covenant with Phinehas to him and his descendants. And the Lord commands them to strike Midian, who tempted them with the Cosbi incident.

 

God is angry with the Israelites for fornicating with the Moabite women and bowing down to their gods (1-3). We must reject all temptations in a world full of temptations and live with faith that serves only God.

 

Phinehas was jealous with God's jealousy and turned away God's anger among the Israelites so that God's jealousy did not anger them (6-13). Therefore, God makes a covenant with Phinehas that he and his descendants will be priests forever. Because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the children of Israel. Jesus loved us even to the point of dying on the cross to atone for our sins. Thus, he became a better priest than Phinehas, a descendant of Aaron. Let us give thanks for the grace of Jesus who atoned for our sins and live a life of preaching this gospel.

 

God, let us reject all temptations and serve only you to the end! Thank you for the grace of Jesus who atoned for our sins, and let us live by preaching the gospel!