1. [Doors of Opportunity Video Clip (Sermoncentral.com)
2. We Have the Opportunity to Become the Model for Someone
"In 1926, a wealthy Toronto lawyer named Charles Vance Millar died; leaving behind him a will that amused and electrified the citizens of his Canadian province. Millar, a bachelor with a wicked sense of humor, stated clearly that he intended his last will and testament to be an "uncommon and capricious" document. Because he had no close heirs to inherit his fortune, he divided his money and properties in a way that amused him and aggravated his newly chosen heirs. Here are just a few examples of his strange bequests:
"He left shares in the Ontario Jockey Club to two prominent men who were well known for their opposition to racetrack betting.
"He bequeathed shares in the O'Keefe Brewery Company (a Catholic beer manufacturer) to every Protestant minister in Toronto.
"But his most famous bequest was that he would leave the bulk of his fortune to the Toronto woman who gave birth to the most children in the ten years after his death.
"This clause in his will caught the public imagination. The country was entering the Great Depression. As people struggled to meet even their most basic economic responsibilities, the prospect of an enormous windfall was naturally quite alluring. Newspaper reporters scoured the public records to find likely contenders for what became known as The Great Stork Derby. Nationwide excitement over the Stork Derby built quickly.
"In 1936, four mothers, proud producers of nine children apiece in a ten year time span, divided up the Charles Millar's bequest, each receiving what was a staggering sum in those days - $125,000." (From Sermon Central sermon by Joanna Beveridge) -- Did they love kids or money?
3. The bible gives a clear picture of both the good and bad sides of its characters -- propagandists will slant/spin things to advance their point of view, God gives a balanced look
a. People it imitate (1 Corinthians 11.1) and to avoid
b. Only Yeshua (Jesus) lived the sinless life -- 2 Corinthians 5.21 (CJB)
God made this sinless man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God's righteousness."
4. Last Torah Portion -- Balak and Balaam
a. Balaam's attempt to profit at the expense of others
b. Balak's (King of Moab) attempt to destroy the people of God
c. Failed because of the presence and power of God
5. This week -- Bamidbar (Numbers) 25.1-13 -- The attack Continues
a. Opportunity to avoid evil
b. Opportunity to imitate good
I. Strong Opposition to the People of God
A. Opposition in Various Forms
1. Outright War and Oppression Against the Hebrews -- Amalek; Moab; Egypt
2. Subtle Actions as Here with Midian -- Ephesians 6.10-13
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
B. Opposition in an Ultimate Adversary
1. Satan -- 1 Peter 5.8
2. Filled with hate towards people -- God loves; Satan hates
a. Image of God
b. Discipleship of Yeshua -- Luke 6.40 (CJB)
A talmid is not above his rabbi; but each one, when he is fully trained, will be like his rabbi.
3. Great animosity toward Yeshua (Jesus) -- Matthew 4; crucifixion
II. Significant Opportunities for the People of God
A. Every Situation is an Opportunity to Honor God -- Deuteronomy 6.4ff
I read about a high school music appreciation class where the students were asked the difference between listening and hearing. It took a while for anybody to raise their hand, but eventually one of them did they gave this insightful definition:
"Listening is WANTING to hear."
B. This Occasion of Idolatry Dishonored God
1. God's Instructions -- No other gods; no images; 3000 and the golden calf
2. Idolatry is dangerous
Ralph Waldo Emerson hit the nail on the head when he said:
The Gods we worship write their names on our faces, be sure of that. And a man will worship something --have no doubt about that, either. He may think that his tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of his heart--but it will out. That which dominates will determine his life and character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshiping we are becoming.
a. Immorality of the fertility cults -- Baal; Pan
b. Insolence of Zimri -- v. 14 (Midianite woman -- as MOSES!)
1) High Ranking -- above the Law?
2) Kings wrote the Torah to remember they were also subject
3) No respecter of persons -- Acts 10.34
And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality,
c. Indifference of the woman -- v. 15
d. We can become our own gods -- Article in which we dictate our happiness to God -- "It is MY way or NO way." -- Who is God? Who is really influencing our lives?
e. [Passover Seder -- Second Cup -- Praise --
* If he had merely rescued us from Egypt and not punished the Egyptians -- "Dayenu" (it would have been enough)
* If he had only destroyed their gods, but not parted the Red Sea -- "Dayenu"
* If he had only drowned our enemies and not fed us with manna -- "Dayenu"
* If he had only led us through the desert, but had not given us the Sabbath -- "Dayenu"
* If he had only given us the Torah, but not the land of Israel -- "Dayenu"
A Different God -- A Different Man
James Michener, writing in his book, The Source, tells the story of a man named Urbaal, who, was a farmer living about 2200 B.C. He worshiped two gods, one a god of death, the other a goddess of fertility.
One day, the temple priests tell Urbaal to bring his young son to the temple for sacrifice--if he wants good crops. Urbaal obeys, and on the appointed day drags his wife and boy to the scene of the boy's "religious execution" by fire to the god of death.
After the sacrifice of Urbaal's boy, and several others, the priests announce that one of the fathers will spend next week in the temple, with a new temple prostitute. Urbaal's wife is stunned as she notices a desire written more intensely across his face than she had seen before, and she is overwhelmed to see him eagerly lunge forward when his name is called.
The ceremony over, she walks out of the temple with her head swimming, concluding that "if he had different gods, he would have been a different man."
III. Serious Obligation for the People of God (10-13)
A. A Godly Zeal/Jealousy -- Taking Responsibility; Maturity; 5 Women in Chapter 27
1. Not the petty jealousies we have -- [Laura -- "You're looking at Jessalyn more than me."
2. God knows we need him to be like him and his motivation is his deep love for us -- "I am a jealous God"
One day, in 1888, Alfred Nobel picked up the morning newspaper and read his obituary. It was his brother who had passed away, but an over-zealous reporter, who had failed to check the facts, wrote that the world saw Alfred Nobel as the inventor of dynamite, an armaments manufacturer, a merchant of death.
Because of this unusual chance to see his life as others saw it, Nobel resolved to make clear his true desire for peace. He arranged that the income from all of his fortune would fund an award to be made to those persons who did the most for the cause of peace. And so, today we remember Alfred Nobel not as an arms merchant, but as the founder of the Nobel Prize for Peace.
B. A Godly Comparison
1. Rabbis compare Pinchas to Elijah -- 1 Kings 18.46-19.21
a. Courage; Obedience; Enthusiasm (Elijah = The LORD is God and he would live up to his name)
b. Confidence in God
c. Jealous for God -- 1 Kings 19.10
He said, "I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the people of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thy altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
2. A Godly Quality -- Exodus 20.4-5
4 "You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,
a. Demonstrated in Yeshua (Jesus) and the Moneychangers -- John 2.17
17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for thy house will consume me." (Cf. Psalm 69.9)
b. To be displayed in the Talmidim (disciples) -- Titus 2.14
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
3. Willingness to take God on his terms -- 2 Thieves crucified with Yeshua (Jesus) -- one puts down his own terms; the other trusts in Yeshua (Jesus)
Conclusion
1. Pinchas:
a. Made atonement for Israel and stayed the plague
b. Received Reward -- Perpetual priesthood for his descendants
c. Regarded for Generations -- Psalm 106.30 (CJB)
Then Pinchas stood up and executed judgment;
so the plague was checked.
2. Yeshua (Jesus):
a. Made atonement -- not in death of sinners but in death for sinners
b. Rewarded with eternal priesthood -- Hebrews 6.19-20
19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of MelchizŒedek.
c. Regarded by generations to follow -- Acts 2.36
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
3. In circumstances we have opportunity to Honor Him
Gladys Aylward was a single woman who became a missionary to China. When the Japanese army invaded during WWII, she was forced to flee. She loved the orphans she worked with so much that she couldn't bear to leave them behind. So, with only one assistant to help her, she led more than 100 children over the mountains to reach freedom.
In the book "The Hidden Price of Greatness," the authors tell us the unknown (and true) story of the struggle which Gladys Aylward fought with herself:
During Gladys's harrowing journey out of war-torn Yangcheng, she grappled with despair as never before. After passing a sleepless night, she faced the morning with no hope of reaching safety. But a 14 year old girl in the group reminded her of one of the stories the orphans loved from Scripture... the story of Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea.
"But I am not Moses," Gladys cried in desperation.
"Of course you aren't," the girl said, "but Jehovah is still God!" (Russ Lawson on Heartlight.org 4/3/09)
