How does Numbers 25:15 connect to warnings against idolatry in Exodus 20:3? Setting the Scene in Numbers 25 • Israel is camped at Shittim (Numbers 25:1). • Some men join themselves to Moabite women and worship Baal of Peor (vv. 2–3). • God’s anger breaks out; a plague begins (v. 9). • Phinehas ends the rebellion by striking down Zimri and Cozbi (vv. 7–8). • Verse 15 highlights Cozbi’s identity: “The name of the Midianite woman who was put to death was Cozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.” Why Cozbi Is Named • Scripture rarely names incidental figures; when it does, the name signals importance. • Cozbi embodies the seductive pull of foreign worship that lured Israel into idolatry. • By naming her, Moses spotlights the personal, relational doorway through which idolatry crept in. Connecting to Exodus 20:3 Exodus 20:3: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” • The first commandment establishes God’s sole right to Israel’s worship. • Numbers 25:15 shows a direct violation: Israel gave allegiance to Baal through Cozbi. • The episode illustrates that idolatry is not merely theoretical—it flows from relationships, choices, and compromises. Parallels and Progression 1. Command Given – Exodus 20:3 – God’s exclusive claim on Israel’s heart. 2. Command Broken – Numbers 25:1–3 – Physical immorality leads to spiritual unfaithfulness. 3. Command Enforced – Numbers 25:4–9, 15 – Judgment and plague verify the seriousness of the first commandment. 4. Command Reinforced – Deuteronomy 6:14–15 – “Do not follow other gods… for the LORD your God… is a jealous God.” Lessons for Today • Idolatry often begins with seemingly small relational compromises (2 Corinthians 6:14–16). • Naming Cozbi reminds us that specific people, places, or practices can rival our loyalty to God. • God’s jealousy is protective love; He intervenes to guard His people from destructive allegiances (James 4:4–5). New Testament Echo 1 Corinthians 10:6–8 warns believers by citing this very incident: “Now these things took place as examples…”. Paul ties sexual immorality and idolatry together, urging the church to flee both. Takeaway Numbers 25:15 personalizes the breach of Exodus 20:3. By naming Cozbi, Scripture underscores how idolatry enters through tangible relationships and how seriously God acts to preserve His covenant people’s exclusive devotion. |
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