Rebellion on the Border

The national apostasy of Israel on the borders of the Promised Land was but the climax of a cyclical pattern of infidelity with their Husband. The first infidelity was at Kadesh-Barnea; the second, at Kadesh and the waters of Meribah (Num. 20:1, 13); and now the third, at Shittim. This lush, wooded area covered by acacia trees, provided shade, fruit, and water in abundance—a welcome respite from their long travels.

While at their ease sinister forces were at work plotting their enticement and destruction. Satan moved upon the heart of Baalam to suggest to Israel’s enemies, the Midianites and Moabites, to covertly infiltrate their encampment with women, inviting them to the feast and sacrifice of Baal worship.

The text would indicate that Israel succumbed to this temptation overnight. It was a national apostasy guided by their leaders.[1] “The Israelites ate the sacrificial food and prostrated themselves before the gods of Moab; they joined in the worship of the Baal of Peor” (Num. 25:2, 3). Such apostasy does not happen with the blink of an eye. Neither should it be concluded that they were all unsuspecting simpletons who were vulnerable to every passing temptation. There were some long-term contributing factors to Israel’s national apostasy. Their final downfall was but the tip of the iceberg of infidelity toward God.[2]

It is unknown sin in the heart of the Christian that holds the potential for apostasy. “A long preparatory process, unknown to the world, goes on in the heart before the Christian commits open sin.” Often Christians are susceptible to self-confidence by deceiving themselves into thinking they are invulnerable to specific temptations little knowing their own hearts.[3] What Christians do not know about their own hearts Satan readily recognizes. “Satan well knows the material with which he has to deal in the human heart.”[4]

This explains the seemingly sudden downfall of the whole nation into a nature cult. The desire for physical gratification in the form of food and lust is within the fallen nature of every Christian. Unless it is recognized and submitted to constant crucifixion with Christ, it will self-confidently arise and assert its dominance. It does so incrementally on a daily basis as curiosity indulges self in media portrayals of the latest scandals and soft pornographic depictions. The senses become accustomed to sin dressed up in all its niceties. The moral senses of the soul are degraded until sin doesn’t seem so ugly anymore. Social pressure is exerted to join the crowd of what is acceptable, lawful behavior. We live in a postmodern culture in which there is no wrong and there is no right. There are no black and white absolutes. It is a universe of lies.

The national apostasy of leaders and people “aroused the anger of the Lord, who said to Moses, ‘Take all the leaders of the people and hurl them down to their death before the Lord in the full light of day, that the fury of my anger may turn away from Israel” (Num. 25:3, 4, REB). Talk about a “shaking” among the leadership of God’s people! They took themselves down. The Lord but concurred with their decision. It was not by some arbitrary divine fiat that the leaders died. They chose death rather than life. But the Lord always takes the responsibility for what happens and doesn’t play the