Irreverent Reverence Day 72: Numbers 25-26 and Proverbs 21

The Bible that I am reading entitles the first part of Numbers 25 as "Moab Seduces Israel". I guess that title is good enough, but it was nice to see that Phinehas son of Eleazar was not so easily bent.

Apparently, the blessing that Balaam had given the Israelites worked too well. Not only had they conquered the men of Midian, but they were working on the women as well. I can't help but think that they were doing something like hitting Midianite bars, or something like that.

I guess the Midianite women must have been really buxom, as the Israelites were drawn like a bee to a flower. I don't know if it was the married ones or unmarried ones, but it really doesn't matter. Eventually, the sexual immorality was so fulfilling to them that they soon bowed down before the Midianite gods.

You can imagine that God was not too pleased. The people also heard, and began to weep in front of the tent of meeting.

Then this one guy, who the Bible doesn't give us a name, goes and brings his Midianite woman right in front of them. I honestly don't know what this guy's agenda was, honestly.

Was this some way to protest what was going on? Did he mean to show that he was doing something that irritated God, right in front of all the people and priests. If so, he could have done a better job. He could have stood up and proclaimed what he was doing, in some gesture of defiance.

Or did this guy really not see or hear all the people weeping in front of the temple for the sin he was clearly doing? Was he so caught up with this woman that he forgot where he was. Well, if so, then I would have to say he was clearly in love or terribly in lust.

Anyway, you know how the story ends. The guy dies for his woman, and she dies too. It's kind of like Romeo and Juliet, but they both get it at the same time. That would have been a pretty grand statement.

However, this man really lives like we do. Going by from day to day, not certain why he does it, only that he does it. If he really wanted to defy the Israelite and God's law, he could have told everyone what he was doing. As it is, he did something and thought no one was watching. Sadly, he got some very unintended consequences.

Don't live life like this. Don't just do something and expect it to be right. And if you do the wrong thing, at least have the courage to stand up and proclaim that you are doing the wrong thing. Just be prepared for the consequences.