(Numbers 23:14-24, Habakkuk 1:13a, Numbers 25:1-9, 2 Corinthians 2:11)
When the righteous flourish, it is indisputable that his life is pleasant to God. God continues to be great in our life, in as much, as we are have not become unpleasant to Him in our ways. The book of Judges shows many times when the Israelites flourish before the Lord, like the Lord’s garden planted at the choicest place. Then we would notice that an interruption overtakes such flourish. If one would pay close attention to issues that happened before such interruption it is always clearly stated that the people walked in God’s displeasure. The book of Judges gives a dramatic detailing of the on-and-off, high-and-low, a cyclic-like pattern of Israel’s relationship with God. Hence, their flourish followed same pattern; quite unstable. The book of Judges might be narrating a time of pleasantness but suddenly interruptions like “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of… (enemies)” would come in. So beloved, at this point let us let us bring this exposition before ourselves as mirror concentrating on ourselves and not on the Israelites.
The devil and his agents know something about our God which we seem not to know too well. This thing is that God is holy. This sounds always very simple that we might have never thought twice or deep about what it means to say “our God is holy”. A kind of meditation that would lead us around and around in why God is holy, holy and holy! However, the devil and his agents are aware of all this. They know if it is well with God’s children, it is because God is with him. If God’s children are untouchable, it is because of their ways is pleasant enough for God to dwell in them and with them. Hence, such God’s children are secured in Father’s protection.
So, a critical thing that we need to know and meditate on is that holiness is the nature of God. Such that He cannot behold iniquities (Habakkuk 1:13a). “Cannot” means God is not able to tolerate iniquities. While we think he bears with us and He understands that we cannot be perfect, He Himself is like responding that “if only you know that even if I love you, I cannot tolerate your iniquity. When Lord Jesus bear the burdens of our iniquities on the cross, Father had to take is eyes off Him, that the Lord cried out “my God, my God why have you forsaken me?”. Why? Because of the burdens of sin He bore, despite that it was not His own burden. How much more if the burden is our personal iniquities.
Can we picture a life where God dwells, that whatever the person does, He does it with the person. If suddenly such life begins to behold iniquities, will God (being in such life) behold the iniquities with him or her? How much more if he or she goes further to welcome such iniquities into his or her life? Will God tolerate and bear with such life? Will God say for the sake of love He will co-exist with iniquities in such life? No, His nature is holiness. And when He leaves such life, His authority, power, angels and covenant leave with Him. The life then becomes naked, unprotected and open to enemies.
The devil and his agents understand this and employ it everytime as battle strategy (and most time they do so effectively against) the children of God. That is why they do all within their power to lure us into sin. That is why they will use all gimmicks to package and present sin to us- attractive and fascinating. That is why they pester our weak minds with wants and desires making them look like things we must acquire even if it means compromising our faithful to our our Lord.
In Numbers chapter 22, King Balak desired so much to curse, fight and destroy Israel but he could not. In Numbers 23:21 prophet Balaam mentioned why it was not possible to overcome Israel. He made it clear that it was because “He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither has He seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him… ”
Their defence that God was particular about in Numbers chapter 22, 23 and 24 was interrupted in chapter 25 verse 1, and this continues till verse 9.
Numbers 31:16 later gives this account “Behold, these 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”
Revelation 2:14 reveals this as ” doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac (Balak) to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel”. Emphasis added
We thank God for someone like Phinehas, whose act took away God’s judgement. Who is the Phinehas that will stand for God, even if everyone goes away from God. That individual whose life will take away God’s judgement (Numbers 25:11-13). Who will intercede for others, to help them wage war against the real enemy (the devil) and kill their iniquities with the spear of prayers (2 Corinthians 10:4, Ephesians 6:12, under the new covenant we do not war against sinners but we war against sins and the power of sins) ; and will turn the wrath of God away? You or I?
Who will come on behalf of all to the Father? Who will bring others to Calvary, to the cross? Who will bring his or her family to the foot of the cross? You or I?
Please beloved, let us bear this in mind that no matter how great our sacrifice and love to God are it must not be polluted with iniquity. It is that purity of heart that magnifies our love and sacrifice making our God accept it as something great and lovely, despite that He created and owns all. It is not that love or sacrifice God cherishes but it is that purity of heart presenting them.
In conclusion, iniquity is the snare the enemies use against the children of God. Please beloved, beware!
Prayer Points
1) Holy Ghost, I give myself to You, never to be enemies’ snare to Your children, in Jesus name.
2) Everything in me that the enemy can use to ensnare me, receive the fire of the Holy Ghost, in Jesus name.
3) All sacrifices my enemies are making to trap me or my loved ones, oh God, instead of fire of acceptance, rain fire of destruction upon them, in Jesus name.
4) Every committee seated against my portion of blessings, Holy Ghost scatter them completely, in Jesus name.
5) Lord Jesus, release the grace of steadfastness and upliftness into me.