The Baal of Peor

The Baal of Peor (Num. 25:1-4)

While Israel was staying at Shittim, the people profaned themselves by whoring with the Moabite women, who invited the people to the sacrifices for their god.  The people partook of them and worshipped that god.  Thus Israel attached itself to Baal- Peor, and the Lord was incensed with Israel (Num. 25:1-4)

The word Baal means god; and the word Peor means hole; cleft or opening.   

So this speaks of the worship of the genital area.

There are various connections between the Baal- Peor narrative and the sin of the golden calf in Exodus 32-34.  In both, sexual licentiousness combined with idolatry; in both, many Israelites died in the wake of what was done; in both, the zealots were rewarded by the Lord.

So we are told in (Num 25) the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. So Israel joined in worshipping the Baal of Peor. 

And the Lord’s anger burned against them. The Lord said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the Lord’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel." So Moses said to Israel’s judges, "Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshipping the Baal of Peor."

Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand and followed the Israelite into the tent he took the spear and thrust it through both of them and the Plague that killed 24000 was stopped from wiping out the nation.

The story behind this is that today we do not confront evil. Churches today are tolerating and agree with evil. 

Pope Francis has said that he will not judge the priests who are involved in homosexuality. That is endorsing evil. Most churches and communities today are accepting abortion (Jer 20:17) shall my mother’s womb become my grave. Leading politicians all over the world are endorsing sin and the churches are not standing up for righteousness.