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Sexual Immorality in Marriage | The ripple effect (Numbers 25 – 31)

Have you experienced your stomach drop when you heard a marriage was on the brink of divorce as a result of infidelity? Sexual sin is an outward example of an inward spiritual problem and can snowball into further spiritual problems, not to mention that sexual immorality in marriage is very serious and affects more than just your spouse.

Immorality is displayed all throughout the Bible and we would do well to study when it comes into play and why. Some verses in the Bible are absolutely cringeworthy, to read about the degradation of women or the sinful acts performed; yet, they serve a purpose. It we don’t try to see the value of the lesson to apply to our lives, we miss out on a lot.

Get our bearings first…

In Numbers 25, the Israelites had traveled around Moab and into the area of Shittim. They had just won battles in what look to be border cities to the Ammonites and taken over territories and cities to the West and to the North of the Ammonites. Remember, too, that the Moabites and Ammonites are both descendants of Lot. (Interesting to note, after the Israelite tribes settle, the historical maps show their land remained theirs, as did Edom’s (descendant of Esau).)

Here they are, this huge nation who has utterly destroyed other territories, with no finite settlement now residing in the plains along the Jordan River. A well-known diviner, Balaam, had been summoned by the King of Moab to send curses on the Israelites. This backfired on the Moabites as God only allowed Balaam to utter blessings instead. (Numbers 22-24).

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Biblical consequences of immorality - map of shittim, moab, ammon, Israelite journey into Promised Land

Balaam’s advice…

While Balaam was not able to offer the King a positive report, we find out in Numbers 31 that he advised a different strategy. He knew that the Lord had chosen this nation, that He had blessed them through him, and that He had granted them victories so they could settle as a nation.

Balaam knew this angle toward them was secure. This would happen. So he attacked them in a much different way. He advised the Moabite women to seduce the Israelites away from the Lord.

Behold, these [women] caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.

Numbers 31:16

And seduce they did. They successfully infiltrated the Israelites to indulge in sexual immorality. Once the sexual immorality occurred, they were able to further the mission and invited them to the sacrifices of their gods. The Israelites not only did that but also ate, worshiped, bowed down, and joined themselves to their gods.

While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These [women] invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.

Numbers 25:1-3

Taking it home…

Sexual Immorality in Marriage | The ripple effect (Numbers 25 - 31)

The Israelite men whored themselves out (the root word means to “commit adultery”; “a verb meaning to fornicate, to prostitute”) and stepped away ultimately from God, but also from the Israelite women whom God intended them to be with. With boldness, we read how Zimri brought a Midianite woman TO HIS FAMILY all while Israel was already mourning the plague that was spreading amongst those who had worshiped the Baal of Peor. No shame. No fear. He caused sexual immorality in marriage to directly infiltrate his home.

He brought her to his family, into his tent to commit adultery. He had a family. Imagine, if you will, his family and how they must have reacted. Imagine, if you will, the shock that (hopefully) reverberated through Israel to see a man so brazen as to whore himself out in front of his family and the entire nation. Now imagine, if you will, the anger of the Lord. Sometimes it can be so easy to internalize sins that happen against us and focus only on our hurt.

The Old Testament serves as a great reminder to not only recognize the hurt and deep pain we feel, but to ensure we focus on who it hurts even more than that. God’s holiness is not a matter to be trifled with. We need to understand that the sins of this world are so much more egregious to God than we could ever imagine… even when we have experienced deep grief over situations.

Phineas understood this concept, and he zealously stood up for what was right, thereby stopping the plague spreading among them.

Baby steps…

Baby steps is a focus in our home, not only the steps a baby takes to learn to walk, but so, too, the baby steps a person takes to enter into sin and walk boldly in it.

It is a snowball effect you want to stop before it even compacts into a ball. The steps taken should be recognized as such and encouraged to recognize and stop, or they could soon be running toward a very different goal with unBiblical coaches encouraging them on that path.

This starts also with open communication with our kids. They NEED to be taught to recognize these things or they’ll have no moral ground to stand on. This set of verses opens up a means to teach our kids what God designed for a family. His ultimate design is one husband, one wife of the same faith, and for them to procreate and raise the kids He blesses them with, continually reminding them of His faithfulness. When a family unit is abolished as a result of infidelity, a gentle way to introduce this type of sin to a child is by letting them know that a husband (or wife) treated another woman (or man) as their spouse; it is a sin against God, a sin against their spouse, and a sin against their kids. Sexual immorality in marriage can often result in a divorce because of the destroyed trust among the couple.

But it all starts with baby steps of the mind and grows til action occurs.

The ripple…

A sin never just affects the person committing it. We may like to imagine that our sin is between only God and us, but it isn’t the case. Consider the common analogy of a rock being thrown in water. The waves that ripple away are a great representation of those around us. Again, let’s take divorce from infidelity. Sexual immorality in marriage is not only a sin against God, the spouse, and the family but it branches out even further. The pastor and the elders of the church are now affected by these sinful acts. The members of their extended family, and also their church family are also now affected. If the name “Christian” is attributed to this person, these transgressions will ripple out to any witness who hears a portion of the story whether true or not.

Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Titus 2:6-8

Abstain from every form of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:22

These verses in the Old Testament, can make the New Testament applications come alive… it makes so much sense why Paul states to refrain from even the appearance of evil. The ripple effect of sin causes great destruction!

Let us rise above this and train our minds to analyze our lives through Biblical lenses. Be like Phineas by zealously standing up for the truths of the Bible and the holiness of God! Encourage your kids to take baby steps toward Christ. Recognize the good they do, teach them the baby steps of the Christian walk in all areas: faith, relationships, devotions, marriages, finances, etc.


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Sexual Immorality in Marriage | The ripple effect (Numbers 25 – 31)

4 thoughts on “Sexual Immorality in Marriage | The ripple effect (Numbers 25 – 31)

  1. Oh, what powerful words you share. Yes, I’ve felt that sick feeling when I hear of yet another affair of someone I know. And the ripple effects do spread out.

    The past few years I’ve bought books to give to the 1st graders that my daughter teaches. They are almost all students of color. I wanted to find books that featured black and brown faces as the main characters, but the choices are so limited. It was sad to discover that. And sad that I hadn’t already noticed it before.

    “It is okay to claim that black lives matter, it is not negating the fact that all lives matter.” Yes, yes, yes. Our white fragility should be able to handle both hearing and saying Black Lives Matter without having to follow it up with All Lives Matter. We know all lives matter, but do we know that black lives matter too? Great post.

  2. Pingback: My Family Goals

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