Numbers 25:4-5 - The high cost of low living.

The sons of Israel as a nation had fallen, all of them including their leaders. They were enticed by the women of Moab into immorality, leading them into harlotry. They participated in the pagan sacrifices, ate the food that was offered to their gods, and joined in the worship of Baal. Isn’t this how degeneration would occur in any community? First the compromise then the full indulgence. After all the Lord had done for them, was this the way to reciprocate His kind overtures? What a let down! This tells us how needful it is to stay watchful over our walk. We need to guard our hearts with all diligence. Passionately and zealously!

Obviously, what they did had aroused God’s fierce anger. So in His wrath, He commanded Moses to take all the leaders and have them executed in broad daylight. Why only the leaders? It was to publicly demonstrate how grievous the sin was to the whole community. It was to make known that the leaders must bear the brunt of the covenant responsibility for the people’s waywardness. God was holding the leaders responsible by executing covenant punishment. Only by executing the leaders could God’s wrath be atoned, His fierce anger against the people averted, and rebellious people be spared. But Moses did not fully follow His instruction. Instead of doing what he was told and killed all the leaders, Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you slay his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor.” He unwittingly had advocated individual punishment.

 

What Moses failed to do, resulted in the loss of more lives. The people could have been spared  had he strictly followed the instruction of the Lord. But he did not. The failure of discipline on his part had caused a more serious consequence to take place to the sons of Israel. Know it or not, a moment of pleasure can lead to a whole life of misery. Sin always invites God’s displeasure. So live life measuredly. We are made for greater things. We must remember that low living always exacts a high cost. Live life sensibly and please  God!