The Last Test

by Sergio Valori

he children of Israel had made 42 journeys from the time they left Egypt to the time of the events recorded in Numbers 25. There would be one last encampment near the river Jordan before crossing over to begin their possession of the land of Canaan. They were close to their final destination.

Their journey toward their goal had, to say the least, been attended by continuous and fierce opposition. At first, Pharaoh would not let them go and had to be humbled by the Lord through a series of terrible plagues. Immediately after crossing the Red Sea, the Amalakites came to engage them in battle, the first of a long series of confrontations by wandering nomadic tribes. As they approached the east side of Jordan, the territories of Bashan and Moab were hostile to their passage, necessitating much warfare. (See Nu. 21-24 and De.1-3) Repeatedly, the Lord gave His people victory in battle and enabled them to proceed toward Canaan.

But as was seen in the early years of their wilderness wanderings, the Israelites were continually plagued by internal problems, the sins of murmuring, lust, idolatry and rebellion against authority– all of which are enumerated in 1 Corinthians 10. Now as they neared their desired goal, yet another test came before them – the temptation to fornicate and thereby incur the wrath of God.

As seen in Numbers 22-24, the King of Moab had attempted, unsuccessfully, to have this people cursed through the carnal prophet, Balaam. God would not allow His people to be cursed, for He had blessed them and kept them, in spite of the repeated judgment He had to release because of their sins. Now they faced yet another test, the very same test confronting His Church today. There is no letup on the part of the enemy. He will try every possible scheme and extend every possible effort to derail God’s people from their ultimate goal of becoming a glorious Kingdom. This is all the more true as God’s people approach their desired goal.

Although Balaam had not been allowed of the Lord to curse the Israelites, he had left the Moabites with a counsel they could use against them. In essence, he had said, “I cannot curse them, but if you tempt them with your women and entice them to commit fornication, it will open the door to their downfall. Their affinity with your daughters will introduce your gods to them and their worship of your gods will anger their God and release terrible judgment against them. Not only will they be judged, but there’s a chance He will withdraw Himself from them and leave them weak and vulnerable.” This doctrine of Balaam has cast a stumbling block to God’s people for many centuries, both in Israel and in the Church.

And so it was, as we see in Numbers 25, that the Israelites began to commit whoredom with the Moabites. A fierce anger rose up in the Lord, the leaders of the movement were executed and 24,000 were slain by the Lord’s plague. It was only when Aaron’s grandson, Phinehas, zealously executed judgment against the offenders that the plague of the Lord was stayed. There is no telling what numbers might have perished had he not done so.

Canaan represents the full inheritance of God’s people. It is that which Christ purchased on the cross for all those of faith. The early Church was immersed in it and gave glorious expression of it. Sadly, the Church then lost her place in her heavenly Canaan as carnal leaders led her into the Dark Ages and long periods of wandering. But, from the days of the reformers until the present – some 600 years- there has been movement toward restoration. Slowly and most often in obscure fashion, a remnant has been on the road of recovering the Lord’s testimony in fullness. I personally believe we are getting close.

But the enemy also knows that we are getting close and has contrived a scheme designed to bring about our downfall. It may be the final test for the Church. Spirits of adultery and fornication have been released from the pit, taking a large toll among believers and their leaders. Almost weekly, we are saddened by reports of some leader’s downfall. No religious leader or Christian believer can today afford to walk carelessly, for the traps of the enemy are carefully laid. The admonitions of the Lord are strong:

We know that the gospel of Christ abounds with forgiveness, but it also gives strong warning to those who choose to persist in their sin. “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy…!” (1 Co. 3:17) The word destroy in the Knox translation is rendered: “bring to ruin.” What a tragic end for those who choose to retain their sinful lifestyles.