Israel's Sins in Moab & the Destruction of the Midianites

OK, so now we have the story of seduction. Go figure women trying to seduce men. Who would have thought. You know I have always believed that the people who you hang out with the most are what you turn into. And I think the people back then knew that too. The men put aside and did not care enough about Gods honor to try to stay away from those Midianite women. And as they hung out with them they started to worship their Gods. Think about our own lives with our spouse. How much are we like them today after 24 years of marriage then we were while we were dating? You know we remain vulnerable to sin no matter how far we have come into our spiritual journey with God. So we always need to be on guard!

Then when God commands them to kill all the Midianite people and they once again disobey by saving ALL the women. Now I have to admit, as I was reading this I was a little taken back by the harshness of all the killing, but it comes as no surprise that there is a lesson to be learned in every passage of the Bible. You see for every action that God has the Israelites do there is a reason, there is a lesson. The Israelites were getting farther and farther away from God. They went with women that they knew they should not have. The worshiped Gods that did not exist! I think God called them to kill these people to not only show them what punishment comes to those who worship idols, but also with the plague upon the Israelites and the death of those who participated in the pagan rituals and the sexual relations with the pagan women. However I still question why He would have them save the virgins. I know it is to keep as slaves so to speak, but would there not be a chance of the idol worshiping to continue and for the men to still be tempted to lay with these women? But God knows best and we may find the answer in later readings.

Anyway, we all have lustful thoughts, feeling, and actions. the point is to keep those in control, in check and in prayer. If you find yourself watching soft porn on cable, then get rid of cable, if you find yourself lusting after a man at work then pray about it or pray for a new job opportunity. We can never really completely be 100% in control of all our thoughts and actions, but with a bit of prayer and a bit of self control, we certainly can have a better grasp on controlling it. And by the way, this goes as well for food addictions, alcohol, cigarettes...you name it. It all comes down to lust doesn't it!?!