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.
