....for over all the glory will be a canopy...
“And Moses said to the judges of Israel, Each one of you slay his men who joined themselves to Baal of Peor.
And behold, one of the Israelites came and brought to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and of all the congregation of Israel while they were weeping at the door of the Tent of Meeting [over the divine judgment and the punishment].
And when Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the inner room and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her body. Then the [smiting] plague was stayed from the Israelites.
Nevertheless those who died in the [smiting] plague were 24,000. And the Lord said to Moses, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the Israelites, in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My jealousy.
Therefore say, Behold, I give to Phinehas the priest, My covenant of peace. And he shall have it, and his descendants after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.” (Numbers 25:5-13)
The clock reads 3:33 pm.
Psalm 106:28-31 says about the Israelites, “They joined themselves also to the [idol] Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices [offered] to the lifeless [gods]. Thus they provoked the Lord to anger with their practices, and a plague broke out among them.
Then stood up Phinehas [the priest] and executed judgment, and so the plague was stayed. And that was credited to him for righteousness (right doing and right standing with God) to all generations forever.”
Worship of Baal of Peor
Since Balak could not get Balaam to curse the Israelites, with the help and teaching of Balaam, Balak sought instead to lure Israel to sin against God -getting Him to turn against them as they broke covenant and caused their own demise. The daughters of Moab were sent to seduce the men of Israel to sacrifice to their gods.
The Israelites began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab, who invited the Israelites to sacrifice to their gods. Numbers 35:3 says, “So Israel joined himself to [the god] Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.”
Worship of Baal of Peor was associated with eating sacrifices offered to idols, seduction and sexual lewdness (Rev. 2:14). One commentary writes, “Baal was the local heathen god worshiped at Peor. This was the god of the Moabite mountains who took his name from Mount Peor … Immorality was a regular part of Baal worship.'”[1]
Eating the food offered to idols had to do with joining yourself in worship to these gods. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:17-18, “For we [no matter how] numerous we are, are one body, because we all partake of the one Bread [the One Whom the communion bread represents]. Consider those [physically] people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners of the altar [united in their worship of the same God?”
Mount Peor was one of the locations that Balaam practiced divinity, meeting with omens and signs in the natural world in hopes of cursing Israel. He had Balak build seven altars, preparing seven bulls and seven rams on the top of [Mount] Peor as an offering to the gods (Numbers 23:28-30).
The smiting plague represents God's divine judgment against national sin. It spread quickly through the body and caused death of the people. Phinehas the priest executed judgment by standing up against the open display of the sin in zealousness. In doing so he made atonement for the children of Israel. And because of it, it was credited to him for righteousness to all generations forever. He was given a covenant of an everlasting priesthood to him and his descendants after him. Phinehas was not only jealous for his own holiness but for the holiness of the congregation. “He made atonement for the people by his zealous actions.” Commentary goes on to note, “National justice prevents national judgments.” [2] [a]
“Dethrone powers and principalities; Tear down the gods of this age and raise up Your Son” speaks/sings in the background.
Influence of Baal of Peor Throughout History
After the plague as a result of Israel playing the harlot with the daughters of Moab and joining themselves to the god Baal of Peor, the Lord told Moses to provoke hostilities with the Midianites and attack them. (Numbers 25:18)
While the Israelites won the battle, they failed to totally eliminate the Midianites. They took captive the women, children, flocks and their goods. Moses was angry and said to them, “Have you let all the women live? Behold, these caused the Israelites by the counsel of Balaam to trespass and act treacherously against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and so a [smiting] plague came among the congregation of the Lord.” (Numbers 31:15-16)
The Israelites failed to be totally cleansed and eliminate the effects from worship of the god Baal of Peor. In Joshua 22, the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar by the Jordan as a witness for future generations (not to offer sacrifices). When the other Israelites heard of it they, misunderstood their intention and sent Phinehas with ten chiefs to confront them.
Phinehas confronted them for turning away from following the Lord and rebelling. He asked them, “Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed even now, although there came a plague [in which 24,000 died] in the congregation of the Lord, that you must turn away this day from following the Lord?”
“High Above every other name... You are above all things” sings
Baal of Peor still has had powerful influence in the world throughout the ages. Not only influencing the world, but still trying to defile and corrupt the church just as this influence did in the times of the Israelites.
Among the church in Corinth, this spirit of immorality had its influence among them. Paul confronts the church in 1 Cor. 5:1, “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, impurity of a sort that is condemned and does not occur even among the heathen; for a man has [his own] father's wife.”
Paul tells them not to be worshipers of false gods in 1 Cor. 10:7. He reminds the church of that the struggles of the Israelites in worshiping false gods and craving and lusting after desires of the flesh were to serve as a warning. In 1 Cor. 10:6,8 he says, “Now these things are examples (warnings and abominations) for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did... We must not gratify evil desire and indulge in immorality as some of them did -and twenty-three thousand [suddenly] fell dead in a single day!
Commentary notes about this, “The ancient Israelites were notorious idolaters. Even though the true God had brought them out of Egypt, they insisted on worshiping lifeless idols. Furthermore, the ancient Israelites engaged in sexual immorality, a sin that also plagued the Corinthians (5:1; 6:18). twenty-three thousand: The account in Numbers gives the figure twenty-four thousand (Num. 25:6–9). There are several possible reasons for the difference. Some have suggested that Paul’s number reflects the number that died in one day, while the Numbers account may be a record of all who died in the plague. Another explanation may be that the Numbers account includes the death of the leaders (Num. 25:4) while Paul’s figures do not.” [3]
Paul goes on to write in 1 Cor. 10:11, “Now these things befell them by way of a figure [as an example and warning to us]; they were written to admonish and fit us for right action by good instruction, we in whose days the ages have reached their climax (their consummation and concluding period).”
“Today dethrone principalities... This is our warfare, our intercession, Jesus reigns over the nations” sings.
Paul also addressed the church of Corinth for eating food offered to idols [as they did in Baal of Peor worship]. He recognized and identified that there are demonic forces at work that were behind it.
In 1 Cor. 10:19-22, “What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is [intrinsically changed by the fact and amounts to] anything or that an idol itself is a [living] thing? No, I am suggesting that what the pagans sacrifice they offer [in effect] to demons (to evil spiritual powers) and not to God [at all]. I do not want you to fellowship and be partners with diabolical spirits [by eating at their feasts]. You cannot drink the Lord's cup and the demons' cup. You cannot partake of the Lord's table and the demons' table. Shall we thus provoke the Lord to jealously and anger and indignation? Are we stronger than He [that we should defy Him]?”
Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Spiritual forces have significant influence in the world. We need only look around and see billboards on main streets, look at overly revealing clothing, watch some TV or listen to some music videos to encounter worship of Baal of Peor. This spiritual influence is everywhere you look.
This same spiritual influence is present in the end times – influencing both the world and infiltrating the church. Just as the Midianite woman and Israelite paraded flagrantly in front of the Israelites who were weeping and repenting, this spirit still manages to work its way into religious settings in the end times.
It was addressed with one of the seven churches in Revelation. In Revelation 2:14 the Lord addresses to the church in Pergamum. He tells them “I have a few things against you: you have some people there who are clinging to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to set a trap and a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, [to entice them] to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and to practice lewdness [giving themselves up to sexual vice].”
Demonic Influence and Regional Sin
John Mulinde and Mark Daniel note that that there are three main influences that hold people captive and bring spiritual death. The first is being conformed to the pattern of the world, allowing it to shape our thinking and guide us into its patterns and ways. The second is the lust of the flesh, thoughts and desires of our sinful nature. The third is works of the ruler of the kingdom of the air – demonic influence. [4]
This is based upon Ephesians 2:1-3 which says, “And you [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins in which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. {You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still consistently works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of [God].
Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our sense and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind.”
These authors write about demonic forces, “Just as there is a hierarchy in the angelic realm, such as angels, archangels, seraphim, cherubim, etc, there is also a hierarchy of dark spiritual forces, including principalities, powers, rulers, and spiritual hosts of wickedness over territories.” [5]
Just as there can be an 'open heaven' over an area where it seems that spiritual things are easily accessible and talking with God seems easy, there are also areas that have a great deal of darkness.
These authors write, “These spiritual powers and principalities of darkness over territories can begin to affect the whole spiritual environment over an area. For instance, in a particular area, you may find that darkness is thick over a territory and that the things of God (faith, prayer, and love, for instance) are difficult to do.” [6]
The Lord tells the church of Pergamum, “I know where you live -a place where Satan sits enthroned. [Yet] you are clinging to and holding fast My name, and you did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness. My faithful one, who was killed (martyred) in your midst -where Satan dwells.” (Rev. 2:13).
John Mulinde and Mark Daniel note that certain spiritual forces have greater influence in certain areas. An example would be Las Vegas where gambling, greed and sexual sins are evident in the atmosphere of the city and they are known for (have an image) that is based upon the spiritual forces that are the undercurrent of the territory. [7]
Sometimes spiritual forces seem to have very strong influence over an area for a period of time. Riots where masses rise up in violence and destroy property and brutally attack others for no significant reason appear to have some demonic influence behind them.
John Mulinde and Mark Daniel note that as people are impacted by the powers and principalities in their territory it pushes people into greater and greater ungodliness. The forces begin to affect more the thinking, lifestyle and relationships. As people submit and become more open to their influence, it becomes stronger and darker. [8]
Sometimes the influence seems harmless, but as we wade into it more, it gets more and more a hold on our lives. Before you know it, we seem to be held captive. For instance, a married man may see a woman across a restaurant and give her a 'harmless glance'. However, next time he sees someone that catches his eye, he may stop by to have a 'innocent chat.' Eventually, his 'harmless interest' leads to an affair.
The eventual consequences of these influences are always destructive. Using the previous example with a real life story, one day while he is out with his 'girlfriend,' his daughter spots him. And she ends up being the one to tell her mother, resulting in the parents ugly divorce. The pain causes tremendous destruction in the daughters life and she consoles herself by drugs and alcohol. While it started with an 'innocent look,' it ended with the destruction of his family and his daughter. Probably not what this husband/father had in mind when he started out.
Hosea 8:7 says, "For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind." And Paul says in Galatians 6:8, “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
John Mulinde and Mark Daniel note the demonic forces and influence can not only create spiritual environments over a city, principalities can become entrenched over entire areas and influence the people in them. [9]
An example of this with Baal of Peor would be sexually explicit music lyrics and videos which have become popular. As people connect with them, it starts influencing the way they think, dress and behave. Often children who are not monitored will be influenced the most by these forces. What they hear and see becomes their way of viewing life.
So what is our role as Christians in all this?
Throughout Numbers, one thing was evident above all – God's care and jealousy for the people of Israel. He had made a covenant with them to be their God. He led them, cared for them and guided them out of bondage and into freedom despite their sin and failures along the way.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:1-6 says, “For I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, that our forefathers were all under and protected by the cloud [in which God's Presence went before them], and every one of them passed safely through the [Red] Sea, and each one of them [allowed himself also] to be baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea [they were thus brought under obligation to the Law, to Moses, and the Law, to Moses, and to the covenant, consecrated and set apart to the service of God];
And all [of them] ate the same spiritual (supernaturally given) food, and they all drank the same spiritual (supernaturally given) drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock which followed them [produced by the sole power of God Himself without natural instrumentality], and the Rock was Christ.”
John Mulinde and Mark Daniel write, “God is a Covenant-Keeping God. God had covenant all the way from the beginning of time. He bound himself in this covenant and he took it seriously. God said to his people all throughout the Bible, 'I am covenanting myself to you, I will not forsake you, I will reveal myself as God. Your part is that I will be your God. Give yourself to me; you will worship no other thing. Your love will be to me, your loyalty will be to me, you will abandon yourself to me, you will trust in me, you will submit to my ways. I will be your God and you will be my people, and I will show myself mighty among you. You will be a blessing unto the nations of the world.'
All throughout Scriptures he says, 'You have broken our covenant.' He would say, 'I will fight your battles,' And any time they would look to other nations to help them in their battles, he would accuse them: 'You have broken covenant. They cannot protect you; I can protect you.' When Israel turned to other gods or other sources to meet their needs or take care of their situations, he would say, 'You are committing adultery against me!' It wasn't that they just started going with the ways of the other nations, they broke covenant!
The whole basis of relationship with God is covenant. It's not just a moral code, a belief system, or a religious experience; it is God's ways. God give us this security in him over and over, saying all throughout the Bible, 'I am a covenant-keeping God.' (Deuteronomy 7:9, Nehemiah 9:32, Daniel 9:4).” [10]
Through this covenant we are provided freedom from being under the control of and held captive by demonic forces. Hosea 2:16-19 says, “and it shall be in that day, says the Lord, that you will call Me Ishi [my Husband], and you shall no more call Me Baali [my Baal]. For I will take away the names of Baalim [the Baals] out of her mouth, and they shall no more be mentioned or seriously remembered by their name.
And in that day I will make a covenant for Israel with the living creatures of the open country and with the birds of the heavens and with the creeping things of the ground. And I will break the bow and the sword and [abolish battle equipment and] conflict out of the land and will make you lie down safely. And I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy.”
It is through faith in Christ that we enter into this covenant and receive His protection from the enemy. Romans 4:16 says, “Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants -not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is [thus] the father of us all.”
“How great is our God, and all will see how great, how great is our God” sings
And just as it is possible for spiritual forces of darkness to have influence over an area, it is also possible for the glory of the Lord to influence an area. Isaiah 60:1-2 says, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”
Francis Fragipane notes that the Spirit of Christ is within us. He notes that “Our goal is not to tell the world about Christianity but to reveal the glory of Christ. We are not called to imitate Jesus in detached obedience but to actually let Him shine through us to mankind.” [11]
Through the covenant, we carry the glory of the Lord inside us and out to the world. Just as darkness creates a spiritual atmosphere over its area of influence, God creates a canopy of glory over us that grows brighter and brighter as the day of His coming draws near.
Isaiah 4:2-6 says, “In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be excellent and lovely to those of Israel who have escaped. And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem and for eternal life.
After the Lord has washed away the [moral] filth of the daughters of Zion [pride, vanity, haughtiness] and has purged the bloodstains of Jerusalem from the midst of it by the spirit and blast of judgment and by the spirit and blast of burning and sifting.
And the Lord will create over the whole site, over every dwelling place of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory shall be a canopy (a defense of divine love and protection). And there shall be a pavilion for shade in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge and a shelter from storm and from rain.”
Francis Frangipane asks, “How does this glory come? And answers, “God is leading the church into a baptism of fire. He has purposed to wash away the 'filth of the daughters of Zion' (Is. 4:4). He has set His heart to purge the 'bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning' (v. 4). The purer we become, the greater the glory that will shine through us.” [12]
“How great is our God, sing with me how great is our God, and all will see how great, how great is our God!”
Lord, We long to see your glory on display in our region. Just as the song sings, we long that all would see how great is our God. We long to have a canopy of glory over our area rather than the influence of spiritual forces of darkness. Purify us and purge us from any influence of Baal of Peor. Let your glory shine through Your bride.
"To Him Who ever loves us and once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood, and formed us into a kingdom (a roayl race), priests to His God and Father -to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever and ever. Amen (so be it)." (Rev 1. 5-6)
a. Could it be that God's people as 'a kingdom of priests' who are to be his glory on display on the earth, through Christ are part of this everlasting priesthood promised to Phinehas and his descendants after him --executing God's judgment (through righteousness)in zealousness for Him which stays the plague that is the result of the darkness Baal of Peor brings?
1. KJV Bible Commentary. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1994, S. 301
2. Henry, Matthew: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody : Hendrickson, 1996, c1991, S. Ps 106:13
3. Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: The Nelson Study Bible : New King James Version. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. 1 Co 10:7
4- 10. Mulinde, John with Daniel, Mark. The Wake-Up Call: To Radically Abandon Our Lives To God. World Trumpet Mission. Orlando, Fl. 2011
11-12. Frangipane, Francis. Shelter Of The Most High: Living your life under the divine protection of God. Charisma House, Lake Mary, FL. 2008
And behold, one of the Israelites came and brought to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and of all the congregation of Israel while they were weeping at the door of the Tent of Meeting [over the divine judgment and the punishment].
And when Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the inner room and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her body. Then the [smiting] plague was stayed from the Israelites.
Nevertheless those who died in the [smiting] plague were 24,000. And the Lord said to Moses, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the Israelites, in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My jealousy.
Therefore say, Behold, I give to Phinehas the priest, My covenant of peace. And he shall have it, and his descendants after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.” (Numbers 25:5-13)
The clock reads 3:33 pm.
Psalm 106:28-31 says about the Israelites, “They joined themselves also to the [idol] Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices [offered] to the lifeless [gods]. Thus they provoked the Lord to anger with their practices, and a plague broke out among them.
Then stood up Phinehas [the priest] and executed judgment, and so the plague was stayed. And that was credited to him for righteousness (right doing and right standing with God) to all generations forever.”
Worship of Baal of Peor
Since Balak could not get Balaam to curse the Israelites, with the help and teaching of Balaam, Balak sought instead to lure Israel to sin against God -getting Him to turn against them as they broke covenant and caused their own demise. The daughters of Moab were sent to seduce the men of Israel to sacrifice to their gods.
The Israelites began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab, who invited the Israelites to sacrifice to their gods. Numbers 35:3 says, “So Israel joined himself to [the god] Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.”
Worship of Baal of Peor was associated with eating sacrifices offered to idols, seduction and sexual lewdness (Rev. 2:14). One commentary writes, “Baal was the local heathen god worshiped at Peor. This was the god of the Moabite mountains who took his name from Mount Peor … Immorality was a regular part of Baal worship.'”[1]
Eating the food offered to idols had to do with joining yourself in worship to these gods. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:17-18, “For we [no matter how] numerous we are, are one body, because we all partake of the one Bread [the One Whom the communion bread represents]. Consider those [physically] people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners of the altar [united in their worship of the same God?”
Mount Peor was one of the locations that Balaam practiced divinity, meeting with omens and signs in the natural world in hopes of cursing Israel. He had Balak build seven altars, preparing seven bulls and seven rams on the top of [Mount] Peor as an offering to the gods (Numbers 23:28-30).
The smiting plague represents God's divine judgment against national sin. It spread quickly through the body and caused death of the people. Phinehas the priest executed judgment by standing up against the open display of the sin in zealousness. In doing so he made atonement for the children of Israel. And because of it, it was credited to him for righteousness to all generations forever. He was given a covenant of an everlasting priesthood to him and his descendants after him. Phinehas was not only jealous for his own holiness but for the holiness of the congregation. “He made atonement for the people by his zealous actions.” Commentary goes on to note, “National justice prevents national judgments.” [2] [a]
“Dethrone powers and principalities; Tear down the gods of this age and raise up Your Son” speaks/sings in the background.
Influence of Baal of Peor Throughout History
After the plague as a result of Israel playing the harlot with the daughters of Moab and joining themselves to the god Baal of Peor, the Lord told Moses to provoke hostilities with the Midianites and attack them. (Numbers 25:18)
While the Israelites won the battle, they failed to totally eliminate the Midianites. They took captive the women, children, flocks and their goods. Moses was angry and said to them, “Have you let all the women live? Behold, these caused the Israelites by the counsel of Balaam to trespass and act treacherously against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and so a [smiting] plague came among the congregation of the Lord.” (Numbers 31:15-16)
The Israelites failed to be totally cleansed and eliminate the effects from worship of the god Baal of Peor. In Joshua 22, the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar by the Jordan as a witness for future generations (not to offer sacrifices). When the other Israelites heard of it they, misunderstood their intention and sent Phinehas with ten chiefs to confront them.
Phinehas confronted them for turning away from following the Lord and rebelling. He asked them, “Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed even now, although there came a plague [in which 24,000 died] in the congregation of the Lord, that you must turn away this day from following the Lord?”
“High Above every other name... You are above all things” sings
Baal of Peor still has had powerful influence in the world throughout the ages. Not only influencing the world, but still trying to defile and corrupt the church just as this influence did in the times of the Israelites.
Among the church in Corinth, this spirit of immorality had its influence among them. Paul confronts the church in 1 Cor. 5:1, “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, impurity of a sort that is condemned and does not occur even among the heathen; for a man has [his own] father's wife.”
Paul tells them not to be worshipers of false gods in 1 Cor. 10:7. He reminds the church of that the struggles of the Israelites in worshiping false gods and craving and lusting after desires of the flesh were to serve as a warning. In 1 Cor. 10:6,8 he says, “Now these things are examples (warnings and abominations) for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did... We must not gratify evil desire and indulge in immorality as some of them did -and twenty-three thousand [suddenly] fell dead in a single day!
Commentary notes about this, “The ancient Israelites were notorious idolaters. Even though the true God had brought them out of Egypt, they insisted on worshiping lifeless idols. Furthermore, the ancient Israelites engaged in sexual immorality, a sin that also plagued the Corinthians (5:1; 6:18). twenty-three thousand: The account in Numbers gives the figure twenty-four thousand (Num. 25:6–9). There are several possible reasons for the difference. Some have suggested that Paul’s number reflects the number that died in one day, while the Numbers account may be a record of all who died in the plague. Another explanation may be that the Numbers account includes the death of the leaders (Num. 25:4) while Paul’s figures do not.” [3]
Paul goes on to write in 1 Cor. 10:11, “Now these things befell them by way of a figure [as an example and warning to us]; they were written to admonish and fit us for right action by good instruction, we in whose days the ages have reached their climax (their consummation and concluding period).”
“Today dethrone principalities... This is our warfare, our intercession, Jesus reigns over the nations” sings.
Paul also addressed the church of Corinth for eating food offered to idols [as they did in Baal of Peor worship]. He recognized and identified that there are demonic forces at work that were behind it.
In 1 Cor. 10:19-22, “What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is [intrinsically changed by the fact and amounts to] anything or that an idol itself is a [living] thing? No, I am suggesting that what the pagans sacrifice they offer [in effect] to demons (to evil spiritual powers) and not to God [at all]. I do not want you to fellowship and be partners with diabolical spirits [by eating at their feasts]. You cannot drink the Lord's cup and the demons' cup. You cannot partake of the Lord's table and the demons' table. Shall we thus provoke the Lord to jealously and anger and indignation? Are we stronger than He [that we should defy Him]?”
Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Spiritual forces have significant influence in the world. We need only look around and see billboards on main streets, look at overly revealing clothing, watch some TV or listen to some music videos to encounter worship of Baal of Peor. This spiritual influence is everywhere you look.
This same spiritual influence is present in the end times – influencing both the world and infiltrating the church. Just as the Midianite woman and Israelite paraded flagrantly in front of the Israelites who were weeping and repenting, this spirit still manages to work its way into religious settings in the end times.
It was addressed with one of the seven churches in Revelation. In Revelation 2:14 the Lord addresses to the church in Pergamum. He tells them “I have a few things against you: you have some people there who are clinging to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to set a trap and a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, [to entice them] to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and to practice lewdness [giving themselves up to sexual vice].”
Demonic Influence and Regional Sin
John Mulinde and Mark Daniel note that that there are three main influences that hold people captive and bring spiritual death. The first is being conformed to the pattern of the world, allowing it to shape our thinking and guide us into its patterns and ways. The second is the lust of the flesh, thoughts and desires of our sinful nature. The third is works of the ruler of the kingdom of the air – demonic influence. [4]
This is based upon Ephesians 2:1-3 which says, “And you [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins in which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. {You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still consistently works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of [God].
Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our sense and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind.”
These authors write about demonic forces, “Just as there is a hierarchy in the angelic realm, such as angels, archangels, seraphim, cherubim, etc, there is also a hierarchy of dark spiritual forces, including principalities, powers, rulers, and spiritual hosts of wickedness over territories.” [5]
Just as there can be an 'open heaven' over an area where it seems that spiritual things are easily accessible and talking with God seems easy, there are also areas that have a great deal of darkness.
These authors write, “These spiritual powers and principalities of darkness over territories can begin to affect the whole spiritual environment over an area. For instance, in a particular area, you may find that darkness is thick over a territory and that the things of God (faith, prayer, and love, for instance) are difficult to do.” [6]
The Lord tells the church of Pergamum, “I know where you live -a place where Satan sits enthroned. [Yet] you are clinging to and holding fast My name, and you did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness. My faithful one, who was killed (martyred) in your midst -where Satan dwells.” (Rev. 2:13).
John Mulinde and Mark Daniel note that certain spiritual forces have greater influence in certain areas. An example would be Las Vegas where gambling, greed and sexual sins are evident in the atmosphere of the city and they are known for (have an image) that is based upon the spiritual forces that are the undercurrent of the territory. [7]
Sometimes spiritual forces seem to have very strong influence over an area for a period of time. Riots where masses rise up in violence and destroy property and brutally attack others for no significant reason appear to have some demonic influence behind them.
John Mulinde and Mark Daniel note that as people are impacted by the powers and principalities in their territory it pushes people into greater and greater ungodliness. The forces begin to affect more the thinking, lifestyle and relationships. As people submit and become more open to their influence, it becomes stronger and darker. [8]
Sometimes the influence seems harmless, but as we wade into it more, it gets more and more a hold on our lives. Before you know it, we seem to be held captive. For instance, a married man may see a woman across a restaurant and give her a 'harmless glance'. However, next time he sees someone that catches his eye, he may stop by to have a 'innocent chat.' Eventually, his 'harmless interest' leads to an affair.
The eventual consequences of these influences are always destructive. Using the previous example with a real life story, one day while he is out with his 'girlfriend,' his daughter spots him. And she ends up being the one to tell her mother, resulting in the parents ugly divorce. The pain causes tremendous destruction in the daughters life and she consoles herself by drugs and alcohol. While it started with an 'innocent look,' it ended with the destruction of his family and his daughter. Probably not what this husband/father had in mind when he started out.
Hosea 8:7 says, "For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind." And Paul says in Galatians 6:8, “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
John Mulinde and Mark Daniel note the demonic forces and influence can not only create spiritual environments over a city, principalities can become entrenched over entire areas and influence the people in them. [9]
An example of this with Baal of Peor would be sexually explicit music lyrics and videos which have become popular. As people connect with them, it starts influencing the way they think, dress and behave. Often children who are not monitored will be influenced the most by these forces. What they hear and see becomes their way of viewing life.
So what is our role as Christians in all this?
Throughout Numbers, one thing was evident above all – God's care and jealousy for the people of Israel. He had made a covenant with them to be their God. He led them, cared for them and guided them out of bondage and into freedom despite their sin and failures along the way.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:1-6 says, “For I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, that our forefathers were all under and protected by the cloud [in which God's Presence went before them], and every one of them passed safely through the [Red] Sea, and each one of them [allowed himself also] to be baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea [they were thus brought under obligation to the Law, to Moses, and the Law, to Moses, and to the covenant, consecrated and set apart to the service of God];
And all [of them] ate the same spiritual (supernaturally given) food, and they all drank the same spiritual (supernaturally given) drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock which followed them [produced by the sole power of God Himself without natural instrumentality], and the Rock was Christ.”
John Mulinde and Mark Daniel write, “God is a Covenant-Keeping God. God had covenant all the way from the beginning of time. He bound himself in this covenant and he took it seriously. God said to his people all throughout the Bible, 'I am covenanting myself to you, I will not forsake you, I will reveal myself as God. Your part is that I will be your God. Give yourself to me; you will worship no other thing. Your love will be to me, your loyalty will be to me, you will abandon yourself to me, you will trust in me, you will submit to my ways. I will be your God and you will be my people, and I will show myself mighty among you. You will be a blessing unto the nations of the world.'
All throughout Scriptures he says, 'You have broken our covenant.' He would say, 'I will fight your battles,' And any time they would look to other nations to help them in their battles, he would accuse them: 'You have broken covenant. They cannot protect you; I can protect you.' When Israel turned to other gods or other sources to meet their needs or take care of their situations, he would say, 'You are committing adultery against me!' It wasn't that they just started going with the ways of the other nations, they broke covenant!
The whole basis of relationship with God is covenant. It's not just a moral code, a belief system, or a religious experience; it is God's ways. God give us this security in him over and over, saying all throughout the Bible, 'I am a covenant-keeping God.' (Deuteronomy 7:9, Nehemiah 9:32, Daniel 9:4).” [10]
Through this covenant we are provided freedom from being under the control of and held captive by demonic forces. Hosea 2:16-19 says, “and it shall be in that day, says the Lord, that you will call Me Ishi [my Husband], and you shall no more call Me Baali [my Baal]. For I will take away the names of Baalim [the Baals] out of her mouth, and they shall no more be mentioned or seriously remembered by their name.
And in that day I will make a covenant for Israel with the living creatures of the open country and with the birds of the heavens and with the creeping things of the ground. And I will break the bow and the sword and [abolish battle equipment and] conflict out of the land and will make you lie down safely. And I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy.”
It is through faith in Christ that we enter into this covenant and receive His protection from the enemy. Romans 4:16 says, “Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants -not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is [thus] the father of us all.”
“How great is our God, and all will see how great, how great is our God” sings
And just as it is possible for spiritual forces of darkness to have influence over an area, it is also possible for the glory of the Lord to influence an area. Isaiah 60:1-2 says, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”
Francis Fragipane notes that the Spirit of Christ is within us. He notes that “Our goal is not to tell the world about Christianity but to reveal the glory of Christ. We are not called to imitate Jesus in detached obedience but to actually let Him shine through us to mankind.” [11]
Through the covenant, we carry the glory of the Lord inside us and out to the world. Just as darkness creates a spiritual atmosphere over its area of influence, God creates a canopy of glory over us that grows brighter and brighter as the day of His coming draws near.
Isaiah 4:2-6 says, “In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be excellent and lovely to those of Israel who have escaped. And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem and for eternal life.
After the Lord has washed away the [moral] filth of the daughters of Zion [pride, vanity, haughtiness] and has purged the bloodstains of Jerusalem from the midst of it by the spirit and blast of judgment and by the spirit and blast of burning and sifting.
And the Lord will create over the whole site, over every dwelling place of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory shall be a canopy (a defense of divine love and protection). And there shall be a pavilion for shade in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge and a shelter from storm and from rain.”
Francis Frangipane asks, “How does this glory come? And answers, “God is leading the church into a baptism of fire. He has purposed to wash away the 'filth of the daughters of Zion' (Is. 4:4). He has set His heart to purge the 'bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning' (v. 4). The purer we become, the greater the glory that will shine through us.” [12]
“How great is our God, sing with me how great is our God, and all will see how great, how great is our God!”
Lord, We long to see your glory on display in our region. Just as the song sings, we long that all would see how great is our God. We long to have a canopy of glory over our area rather than the influence of spiritual forces of darkness. Purify us and purge us from any influence of Baal of Peor. Let your glory shine through Your bride.
"To Him Who ever loves us and once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood, and formed us into a kingdom (a roayl race), priests to His God and Father -to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever and ever. Amen (so be it)." (Rev 1. 5-6)
a. Could it be that God's people as 'a kingdom of priests' who are to be his glory on display on the earth, through Christ are part of this everlasting priesthood promised to Phinehas and his descendants after him --executing God's judgment (through righteousness)in zealousness for Him which stays the plague that is the result of the darkness Baal of Peor brings?
1. KJV Bible Commentary. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1994, S. 301
2. Henry, Matthew: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody : Hendrickson, 1996, c1991, S. Ps 106:13
3. Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: The Nelson Study Bible : New King James Version. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. 1 Co 10:7
4- 10. Mulinde, John with Daniel, Mark. The Wake-Up Call: To Radically Abandon Our Lives To God. World Trumpet Mission. Orlando, Fl. 2011
11-12. Frangipane, Francis. Shelter Of The Most High: Living your life under the divine protection of God. Charisma House, Lake Mary, FL. 2008
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