Cosmic Treason: Sin and the Holiness of God

Thabiti Anyabwile took the pulpit next to speak on the subject of sin, with Numbers 25:1-18 as his text.

1) Verses 1-6: The horrible context. A proscription against idolatry lies at the heart of God's covenant with Israel. Despite God's protection of Israel from plotting by the king of Moab, the people begin to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. Spiritual adultery underlies the physical sin. They repay the faithfulness of God by bowing down to false foreign gods. Watch out for the seductive smiles of the world, for they are a greater danger than the world's disapproval and hate. God directs a drastic example be made of the leaders of the people.

--Sin is moral in nature, a transgression of what is right.
--Sin is personal, against God himself. An apostasy, a falling away, a turning.
--Sin is rebellion against God's rightful rule.
--Sin is dangerous, self-destruction. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

2) Verses 6-9: While the people are gathered grappling with the judgment of God, an Israelite man blatently brings a Midianite woman through in full sight of Moses and the people--really, in the sight of God himself. This is brazen sin, contemptuous of God. Phinehas deals decisively with this affront and thereby stops the plague that had killed many thousands. Do we side with the sinner in his sin or with God, seeking vindication for his name? Sin should cause brokenness and weeping.

3) Verses 10-13: Honorable commendation. God praises Phinehas and makes a special covenant with him and his descendants. Phinehas exhibits godly characteristics. God must also be commended and honored for his grace in ending the plague and for exalting his name. Because sin is treason it requires punishment, correction. That we may participate in his holiness. Sin requires atonement. God's wrath must be turned away. There must be reconciliation. Phinehas as priest points to Christ. Notice the promise of a perpetual priesthood.

4) Verses 14-18: See how the sinner and Midianite woman are remembered by name. God promises a judgment against Midian. God will be God over all, as is right.