When the Israelites were marrying foreign wives, God said for the judges to kill all the men who were doing so. I think it's in Judges 25. Anyway, when one man brought his "girlfriend" before the congregation, just to...ummm...show off his sin, Phineas rose up from the congregation and slew the man and the woman.
Out of all those people, he was the one who did what God wanted. Not the judges, not the priest but young (he was a grandson of Aaron, I think) man did it.
My mind keeps going to the fact that there was a whole congregation, and he was the only one who stood up, had zeal for the Lord. I suppose some in that situation may have thought it was the judges' job to do it, not theirs, and maybe that's why no one else stood up. Some might think he was overstepping his authority, but God said it was great and held off the punishment of Israel because of him.
The whole nation was preserved because of one young person's zeal. It was reckoned to him for righteousness to all generations. Ps. 106 3:4?
3 comments:
What a story of the power of God not being limited to a persons age or title. When you have a heart for God He will use you. Kind of like that little kid named David.
And I have often thought of the advice that Paul gave young Timothy.
You know even at 43 I often feel like who am I to be telling anyone anything. But then the passion inside rises up and I can't keep it in. I guess that is what Phineas was feeling. :)
This story really turned me off Christianity as a child. Killing couples because they're interracial is a horrible, horrible thing to do, period. Ugh. It's stuff like this that was used to justify all sorts of awful practices.
Interesting take onthe account of Phineas. I don't think God killed them because they married bi-racially. It was because they married out of their religion. King Solomon married outside of the nation of Israel as well. He wasn't struck dead, but it didn't go well for him either. That's why he put idols in the temple he built. Yes, people twist scripture to justify some horrible things...only because they choose to twist what it says to say it says something else. Just like you did in saying they were killed for being bi-racial. Even today, religions disapprove of their members marrying outside their religion. Now they ex-communicate rather than kill--although in countries other than America, they still kill them. Interesting thoughts and thanks for your comments.
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