Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. Numbers 25:10-11
Would it ever occur to you that God needs to be defended? Phinehas on his own initiative without being prompted removed sin from the camp. This fast act of honor on God’s behalf touched the heart of God. God takes notice when you speak up on his behalf, act on his behalf, and defend his interests.
Have you ever had to defend someone when someone was talking out-of-school about them? While out of town on a business trip, I would find myself sitting at a dinner table in San Francisco with my boss and his supervisor. My boss’s supervisor would begin to talk about fortune telling as if it was a positive thing. Knowing that this is a no-no and an abomination in the eyes of God, I spoke up in the most diplomatic way I could to make God‘s case. I was unsuccessful and my argument fell on deaf ears, yet I know that God took notice. For all of those courageous acts, prayers, and stepping out and speaking up for God whether you are being covert or overt, God sees them and hears them. God’s heart is touched when you advocate on his behalf to defend him in his honor.
In the same way, when you do this for the helpless or needy, God takes note of that too. When you act honorably on someone else’s behalf, you are acting like a Phinehas.
REFLECT TO CONNECT:
- Has there been a time when you have been in a conversation, and you felt prompted to speak up on God‘s behalf?
- In what ways do you believe you might be called to defend God’s honor?
- Why was God‘s heart touched when Phinehas acted on God’s behalf without being told to?
Principle: God takes notice when others step up and speak up on His behalf, and the opposite is true too.
