Numbers 23-25

Of all the decalogue commandments the most important and difficult to follow are the first and second because they involve man's proper orientation to and worship of God. 

Exodus 20:3,4 (NKJV) "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them."

The Israelites while in the wilderness outside the land of Canaan, while they had the hand of the LORD's blessing and victory in battles there was much grumbling, complaining and sexual immorality. After spying out the land of Canaan resulting in perpetual unbelief, unsuccessful military campaign against the Amalekites, Korah's mutinous rebellion against Moses, persistent complaining, turning out victorious against the Canaanites, Sihon and Og, rising up in pride and mistrust against the LORD and the instance of Balaam blessing Israel many times, the Israelites fall victim to the sin of idolatry. God became fiercely angry with the Israelites in their sexual immorality with the Moabites and the Moabite gods resulting in the death of 24,000. Many might downplay the severity of sin through moral equivalency or self-deception, the truth of the matter is that the law of Moses was disregarded by a people who knew the difference between right and wrong, through their sin Israel insults the Spirit of grace and mercy. Sin cannot survive in the presence of a holy God, the wrath of God is deserving punishment for willful knowing disobedience through trampling the blood of the covenant that sanctifies and consecrates. 

Hebrews 10:30-31 (NIV) "The LORD will judge His people. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

The wrath of God is kindled when His people are not zealous for Him. Where is the affection of your heart today? What are you worshipping? Israel's propensity to give in to harlotry or sexual immorality and false idol worship with the cunning and scheming Moabite and Midianite people demonstrates a lack of guarding their heart against the very things that causes them to stumble and sin against the law of God. How easy is it to slip into a comfort mentality of complacency without even recognizing it. The slope is a slow grade marked by little compromises that lead to destruction and enmity against God and his law. Sin separates man from God, no matter how big or small the consequence of sin is death, God's wrath is no light matter especially since God loves mankind so deeply that He gave Jesus His Son to pay our price for sin, and through His death restore mankind's relationship with Himself. What kind of love saves man for Himself from Himself?

"Christianity involves the belief that God loves man and for his sake became man and died. Christ did not die for men because they were intrinsically worth dying for, but because he is intrinsically love, and therefore loves infinitely." ~C.S. Lewis, Miracles CH. 7

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