Zealous for God

Num 25:1 MKJV
(1) And Israel lived in Shittim, and the people began to fornicate with the daughters of Moab.
(3) And Israel joined himself to Baal-peor. And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel.
(5) And Moses said to the judges of Israel, Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal-peor.
(6) And behold! One of the sons of Israel came and brought to his brothers a woman of Midian, before the eyes of Moses, and before all the congregation of the sons of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
(7) And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation and took a spear in his hand.
(8) And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and pierced both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman, through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the sons of Israel.
(9) And those that died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.
(10) And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying,
(11) Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the sons of Israel while he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy.

This is an incredible story. It's a story about open rebellion of a people before God. It's a story about God's patience with uncovered sin: not much! It's a story about ZEAL for righteousness.

After reading the passage, I really only wish to point out two things.
1) Before sin was atoned for, we see that God's judgment is severe. But scripture says that when Jesus paid the world's price for sin, God's judgment of it was poured out - totally - upon Him. Sin's price is paid. This was not always so. The 'grace' part of this equation today is that we can go through life without accepting the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. Judgment again comes - after death (Heb 9:27-28).

2) This is how God defines zeal. Phinehas pinned a man and woman to the turf with a spear. This is an act that most people would find absolutely repulsive. Even the strongest, most determined among us would have great difficulty in doing such a thing. God said it was the right thing. He called it justice. He called it ZEAL. How many of us who have called ourselves zealous Christians really possess the quality that God defines here? Zealous? Really? Are you - really? This isn't about killing people for God! This is about possessing the attitude that God's opinion is the ONLY one that matters. Apply that any way you wish. That's zeal.