Read

Numbers 25:1-26:65

Think

Numbers 25:1-13, "While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women. These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab. In this way, the Israelites joined in with the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the Lord's anger to blaze against His people."

Think of the imagery above. The Lord's anger "blazed" against His people. Yikes! It's easy to look at the Israelites at that time with disgust. How could they so easily just give in to such debauchery? It's hard to imagine just rolling over to Satan's schemes and involving in such wretched acts. But is it really?

People are like elevators - they can either take us up or down, way down. That's why God is so clear about us hanging out with the right people. He knows how easily we can be persuaded to do things we wouldn't normally do. Bad associations often take us farther than we want to go and cost us more than we want to pay. And for the Israelites, that's exactly what happened! They began to allow their personal desires to jade their relationship with God. So, in His anger, God sent a plague upon His people. In a single act, though, one man, Phinehas, took action. He killed a man and woman caught in an immoral act before the Tabernacle and halted the plague, but not before 24,000 had been slain.

What does this tell us other than the fact that God's anger "blazes" against those who so flagrantly break His commands? It's all about single actions. It's about making choices in the moment to stand for God's truth.

Every time we stand up for what's right and go against the grain - no matter how big or how small - we are setting the stage for Christ's righteousness to take center stage. So, don't give into relationships that can only take you down. Choose to surround yourself with like-minded people who are grounded in Jesus. Then you won't be tempted to do what you would otherwise never do! This allows God's glory to blaze instead of anger, and you will stand in a place of promise and blessing instead of death and destruction. So, CHOOSE GOD!

Pray

Dear Lord, I want to remain faithful to You. Help me stay on track with Your wants and desires. I seek to live out Your best! Amen.