“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take vengeance for the Israelites on the Midianites; afterward you will be gathered to your people [in death].” Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for war, so that they may go against Midian to execute the Lord’s vengeance on Midian [for seducing Israel to participate in idolatry]…Moses sent them, a thousand from each tribe, to the war, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to war with them, and the sacred vessels [of the sanctuary] and the trumpets to blow the alarm in his hand.”
Numbers 31:1-3, 6 AMP
G-d gives Moses a final task to accomplish before his death – a war over worship. Twelve thousand men were readied for battle along with one zealous priest – Phinehas – in what would be Moses’ final assignment.
I have so many one liner thoughts about this passage today, but what comes to mind – rather WHO comes to mind – is Grandma Purtell.
Grandma Purtell was far from a violent woman in the flesh. Tiny, spunky Trixie wasn’t scary to look at to most of the world, but to the demonic realm, she was likely as zealous and as terrifying as Phinehas the Priest, because she was, until her final breath, a worshipper. Worship was her heart. She was zealous for G-d. She told her nurses about Him the day she drew her last breath. It was her assignment. It was her battlefield.
Moses knew he would die after this battle – not IN the battle – but at the conclusion of it. After the 12,000 were selected, he chose Phinehas, along with Holy articles, to accompany them. Since no “General” is mentioned, theologians make the conclusion that Phinehas was the leader of the tribes. Moses sent them to war with instruments of worship (the holy articles and the horn) and a worship leader. In Numbers 25, Phinehas’ zealous response turned G-d’s wrath from the Israelites, and as a result, Phinehas was given a covenant of peace:
“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the Israelites because he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the Israelites in My jealousy. Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to Phinehas My covenant of peace. And it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous (impassioned) for [the unique honor and respect owed to] his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.’ ””
Numbers 25:10-13 AMP
Isn’t it interesting that a man – given a covenant of “peace” -led the way into war? It’s easy to assume that passage means peace as we understand it – but the Hebrew translates it more accurately to a “covenant of friendship with G-d”.
A “friend of G-d” – a worshipper – went first.
Worship led the way. Worship was violent. Worship was loud. Worship WAS the battle. Worship WON the war.
G-d is after my hearts at all costs. He’s jealous for me and my affections. He won’t share me with another. He won’t compete against social media, gaming, or whatever else is distracting me. He is after my devotion. There’s a war going on in the heavens. I hear the sound of it – the battle cry – coming out of worshippers like my dear friend Christina and countless others around the earth.
It’s easy to be distracted by the news today and everything happening from the price of gas to the wars on the streets. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be informed – we should be so we can pray – but we shouldn’t be so consumed that we’re distracted from the real battle raging in the heavens and the spiritual world around us – the battle for our hearts and our affections – mine, yours, our families.
There is One alone who is worthy, and He won’t share His worship with another. The true battle is against the spirits of darkness trying to seduce us away. I hear the cry. I hear the sound. I’m picking up my instruments. I’m laying down my distractions. I’m all in.
Father – give me the heart of Phinehas – a zeal for You that consumes me. Remove distractions. Convict my heart of what barriers exist that I cannot see. You alone are worthy of my devotion and worship. You alone are good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You alone can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: Numbers 31-32