Numbers 25:6-13 (Amplified Bible)
6 And behold, one of the Israelites came and brought to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and of all the congregation of Israel while they were weeping at the door of the Tent of Meeting [over the divine judgment and the punishment].
7 And when Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand
8 And went after the man of Israel into the inner room and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her body. Then the [smiting] plague was stayed from the Israelites.
9 Nevertheless those who died in the [smiting] plague were 24,000.
10 And the Lord said to Moses,
11 Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the Israelites, in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My jealousy.
12 Therefore say, Behold, I give to Phinehas the priest My covenant of peace.
13 And he shall have it, and his descendants after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.How much sin can we see and tolerate in the Body of Christ? Phinehas is the grandson of a priest – one who does not have a title, but understands his heritage and lineage in God. As I read this Scripture, I could imagine the same scenario in modern terms.
There is pestilence in the land. A curse has come upon God’s people because of sin. As the congregation gathers to pray and cry out to God, one named Phinehas sees sin literally walk into the door and decides to take a stand. Oftentimes, in the Body of Christ, it’s so easy for us to turn away. We use prayer and fasting as an excuse not to act or rebuke.
Phinehas decides to react differently. Instead of crying another tear or screaming another moan of lamentation, he takes up a weapon and attacks the sin the midst of the act. He attacked the sin at its root, and killed the perpetrators. Because of his actions, which would be considered nothing more than rebellion in this season, the Bible tells us that God stayed the plague and gave Phinehas the covenant of peace. Not only that, but he has now established an everlasting priesthood.
People of God, this is a season when God is looking for ACTION. Some of us are praying and fasting when God has already requested action. There are some natural things God is looking for from a people who are hiding behind spiritual things. If we would be honest, how can we handle spiritual battles when we cannot even respond to a natural stimulus? Our weapons are not carnal, but our influence is. Oh, who will stand for God after the service is over? When the praise and the worship has ceased, who will make a difference in the world? God is looking to establish a covenant, but He wants His people to DO SOMETHING.
Selah!