Rabbi Hirsch was right on target when he stated, “No foreign sword or curse could harm Israel. Only by turning away from God and His Torah could they bring misfortune upon themselves.”
While foreign armies and a sorcerer couldn’t defeat the Israelites, their rebellion against God in the wilderness led to their downfall. Near the end of their 40-year journey, as they prepared to conquer Canaan, they turned away from God by participating in the sexually centered religious rites of Baal worship.
While Israel was staying at Shittim, the people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab.
These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
Thus Israel yoked itself to the Baal of Peor, and the Lord’s anger was kindled against Israel (Numbers 25:1-3).
In chapter 31, we will learn that Balaam instigated the apostasy of the people of Israel. Although they couldn’t destroy Israel with a curse, they seduced them into sexually centered worship practices of Baal.
Ancient Idolatry
John Oswalt’s book on idolatry is the most informative I’ve read. It highlights a couple of key points worth noting.
(1) Idolatry stems from a needs-based approach to God or the gods. Our needs take priority over God’s will.
We try to have our desires and wishes fulfilled by the gods, often using various forms of manipulation to get what we think we need from them.
(2) The gods use humans to carry out their actions on earth. For example, during a festival, food is set out for the god, with the belief that the god actually eats the food provided by humans.
In temple prostitution, the union of men and women is thought to be mirrored by the gods in the invisible realm, creating the fertility needed by humanity.
These actions may seem primitive to us. Modern humans are more sophisticated, but the same principles still apply.
My father was an attorney for a client who grew up very poor. This man promised himself he would be a millionaire by age 40 to ensure his security. He sacrificed almost everything to reach that goal.
By 40, he had a million dollars, but no family to enjoy it with. So, my father, his attorney, invited him to join us at our home for Christmas and other holidays.
Richard Foster points out three modern false gods: money, sex, and power. Consider the lengths people go to fulfill their desires for these three. While it may look different from the Israelites’ actions with the Canaanites, the principles remain the same.
Human needs and desires often drive our behavior to make great sacrifices to these gods of modern life.
Judgment on Apostasy
Apostasy is mostly a religious term. It means someone sees the truth, knows it’s real, and still turns away to follow something else.
The Israelites had experienced God’s presence. They saw Him part the Red Sea and provide manna daily. They witnessed the pillar of fire and the cloud of God’s glory among them.
Yet, despite all of God’s greatness, they turned away to worship Baal.
Blending the worship of Canaanite gods with the one true God, Yahweh/Jehovah, led to the downfall of God’s people in the Promised Land.
The Lord said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and impale them in the sun before the Lord, in order that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.”
And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you shall kill any of your people who have yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor” (Numbers 25:4-5).
Years later, they faced exile for turning their backs on God. Worshipping false gods not only offends God but also affects how we treat others. You become like the gods you serve.
Think about money, sex, and power. Chasing these false gods often harms others. Like what happened to the ancient Hebrews, God has some form of judgment for those who turn away from him today to follow modern-day gods.
This judgment may take place beyond our time on earth, but it will take place all the same.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 