FAITH CAPSULE: Be Zealous and not be sinful before God. 

Numbers 25, John 2:2-25

To be zealous for God demands to rise above congregation by condemning what is not in line with the word of God. While the children of Israel were in Acacia Grove, during their journey to the Promised Land, they engaged in all kinds of sin such as committing harlotry with the women of Moab. They were also engaged in sacrificing other gods. The action of the children of Israel angered God and God commanded Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the LORD, out in the sun that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.” (Numbers 25:4) It was a sin that claimed life and weeping among the children of Israel. In the midst of it all, one of the children of Israel came into the congregation to present to his brethren a Midianite in violation of God’s command. Phinehas the son of Eleazar reacted, “Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he arose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel.” The Word says Phinehas saw it and he rose from among the congregation. We should refrain from being a part of what is not right in our congregation or fellowship. If we look the other way from wrong because of what others may think, we become part of the problem, and in God’s sight culpable. We are called, as Christians, to discern right from wrong with great conviction from God. It is our duty to arise and act to correct wrongdoing. When we arise and act for the sake of righteousness, God reward us. Phinehas acted on behalf of God and God reacted with blessing. The plague was thwarted and God sent Moses to him. Numbers25:12-13, “Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace; and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.’” When we are overtaken by His zeal, we will stand for God. Standing for God will deny plague from crossing our path. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.(Proverbs 8:13)The zeal of God ate Jesus up and it moved Jesus to cleanse the temple with whip of chord, driving out the wicked from the temple. Be Zealous and not be sinful before God. 

Prayer for today: Ask for the zeal of God to overwhelm you.