This Week's Scriptures: Numbers 25:10-29:40; 1 Kings 18:46-19:21; Romans 11:2-32

There is evidence all around us that there is a Creator. As the psalmist said, "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Ps 19:1). Proof that he is also a personal God is found in the witness of his people – centrally Israel, and thereafter those added to them through faith in Jesus the Messiah.

It is said that in an audience of Marquess D'Aregens with Frederick the Great in 1779, the following interchange took place:

Frederick: "Can you give me one single irrefutable proof of God?"

D'Argens: "Yes, your Majesty, the Jews."

How clearly D'Argens would have understood the importance of our study this week, when Phinehas preserved the identity of Israel from being assimilated among the nations.

Battle for Identity

Our study gives us an insight into the spiritual battle that has sought to discredit the character of God – a battle that goes on today. If Israel's enemies could cause her identity to be lost by assimilation into the world, then her witness to the God of the Bible would be lost.

The incident that led to Phinehas' violence against the Israelite and the Midianite woman shows how important it is to God to preserve his people from spiritual idolatry through intermarriage. In human eyes the violent act might be judged harshly, but in God's eyes it brought blessing to Phinehas and his descendants.

By reading this story we also have some understanding of the reason for the innumerable battles that have raged in this world to eradicate Jewish identity.

The account of Phinehas was a 'one-off' so we must be careful not to turn it into a theology to justify violence. Nevertheless, it gives us an insight into the spiritual battle that impacts on our physical world with the intent of destroying the Jews, especially by seduction into worship of false gods. Intermarriage is still a way this might happen and the principle applies as much to Christians as to Jews, leading to the exhortation of Paul to the Corinthians, not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14).

A Visible Witness

For the sake of his own Name, whatever it takes, God will ensure that he retains a remnant of the Children of Israel as his visible witness. This is a central reason for Israel's return to their Land in our day and a reason for Israel being never far from the front pages of our newspapers.

Added to this are the multitude of Christians all around the world. The privilege of being called by God bears responsibility. Christians share this responsibility with Jews for their lives to be visible witnesses of our personal, loving and trustworthy God.

God knew the heart of Phinehas. He was not a cold-blooded murderer, but was consumed with a holy zeal to protect his people for the purposes of the God of Israel – purposes that continue to this day. Just think what would have happened had there not been such a man.

Author : Clifford Denton