When Balaam was unable to curse Israel directly, he advised the Moabite king (as we discover in 31:16) on a cunning ploy: send in the Moabite cult prostitutes to lure the men into idolatry and then, it was thought, God would curse them himself (see Numbers 25). This is one of the more overtly demonic moments in the story and it is the reason why God commanded Israel to destroy these Moabites completely (Midianites). God’s directive is drastic and somewhat disturbing, but it must be seen as an act of judgement that foreshadows the final great day of judgement. It is God’s prerogative to bring judgement how and when he wants to. The destruction of these Moabites was also due to the powerful spiritual threat that they posed. So, this was also a pre-emptive strike designed to establish a kind of spiritual ‘humidicrib’ for the infant nation of Israel. The fact that those who participated in the attack were deemed unclean underscores the fact that this is indeed a ‘necessary evil’ and not something that God ultimately wants his people to do. However, when you begin with a bad situation, things often need to get worse before they can get better. This was no ordinary invasion. This is all part of a fierce spiritual battle with spiritual issues at stake. We should never downplay the seriousness of the threats to our spiritual walk and should be prepared to defend it at all costs.
Reflect on the main threats to your spiritual well-being.
Read Number 31
