7When Phinehas son of Eleazar...

7When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand

8and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear into both of them, right through the Israelite man and into the woman’s stomach. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped;

9but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.

10The Lord said to Moses,

11"Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal.

- P103

12Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him.

13He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites."

14The name of the Israelite who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family.

15And the name of the Midianite woman who was put to death was Kozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.

16The Lord said to Moses,

17"Treat the Midianites as enemies and kill them.

18They treated you as enemies when they deceived you in the Peor incident involving their sister Kozbi, the daughter of a Midianite leader, the woman who was killed when the plague came as a result of that incident." - P103

Despite God’s warnings, Israel falls into sin with the Moabite people. The men were not only drawn to the Moabite women but also participated in idol worship, abandoning their identity in God to yoke themselves to Baal. This was not merely an individual failing but a communal breakdown. - P104

In response, God commands punishment for the leaders of those who participated in idolatry, holding them accountable and making an example for the rest of Israel. Moses commands the execution of the perpetrators while a plague breaks out among the people, killing twenty-four thousand. - P104

Leaders are to take responsibility in building up and disciplining their communities in righteousness. Failing to do so leaves the community vulnerable to the enemy that wants to destroy it.
- P104

As Israel weeps over the heavy burden of its sins, Zimri and Kozbi blatantly commit the very same transgressions in full view of everyone. When Phinehas sees this brazen defiance, he acts decisively, motivated by his devotion to God. - P104

God praises his zeal, which serves as a shining example among a people hesitant to fully obey God’s commands. - P104

We may think his response extreme, but it is carried out in obedience to God’s decree of judgment and matches the gravity of the disobedience it confronted. - P104

While we are not tasked with carrying out such a radical judgment on other people, we are to emulate Phinehas’s zeal in our fight against our sins, which tempt us to defy God. - P104

"God is not into moderate. He‘s not into middle-of-the-road devotion to Jesus. 
Zealis important."- John Piper - P104

God, I know that Your commands are for my good, yet I so often neglect them. - P105

Please ignite within me a zeal for Your glory. - P105

And may my passion for You help edify my community in Your righteousness. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P105

Over the past few years, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) hasgained significant popularity among younger generations in South Korea,
helping individuals gain a better understanding of themselves. I personallyfind the test insightful. As someone with a "Judging" trait, my go-to strategyfor dealing with future uncertainties is to set clear goals and plan ahead,
rather than embrace life‘s unpredictability. This approach often helps meanticipate what‘s coming and be ready to make the most of opportunities. - P113

However, as life often reminds us, things don‘t always go according to plan.
- P113

In today‘s passage, the Israelites find themselves at a significant turningpoint as they prepare to enter the promised land. A new generation, mostlyunfamiliar with the hardships of slavery and the wonder of the exodus,
faces an uncertain future under new leadership.  - P113

But there is one constantthat has been with them through the wilderness: God‘s guidance.  - P113

Despiteany regrets they may have, they can be certain that God‘s faithfulness willlead them through.
This is also true for us when we enter new seasons in our lives. New beginnings are always an exciting time-a time to reflect on the past, to countthe blessings we have received, to acknowledge our mistakes, and to remindourselves not to repeat them in our new chapter.  - P113

But new beginnings arealso full of uncertainty. However, though we may not fully know what liesahead, we can trust in God‘s unwavering commitment to fulfill His purposefor us.  - P113

Let us take courage and rejoice, knowing that, though seasons comeandGod‘s faithfulness remains the same. - P113

[오늘의 한문장] 하나님의 시선

Psalms 91:15 NLT
[15] When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
- P163

그러나 우리가 아는 한 가지는 그리스도 예수 안에 있는 하나님의 사랑으로 이 모든 것을 넉넉히 이길 수 있다는 것입니다. 우리는 오늘 묵상의 제목처럼 "나는 그 사랑으로 인해 고난 가운데서 매번 일어납니다"라고 고백할 수 있어야 합니다. 그 어떤 고난도 우리를 사랑하시는 하나님의의지보다 클 수 없습니다.
- P163

한줄노트 고난이 오는 것은 막을 수 없지만 고난 가운데 일어서는 것은 우리가 할 수 있습니다.
묵상 질문 지금 당신에게는 삶의 어떤 일, 어떤 부분, 어떤 순간에 ‘사랑의 확증‘이 필요합니까? - P163

챔버스가 늘 얘기하듯, 우리는 하나님과의 ‘친밀한 관계 때문에 승리할 수있습니다. 그 어떤 고난도 예수 그리스도 안에 있는 우리와 하나님의 관계에 영향을 미칠 수 없습니다. 고난이 면제되지 않는다면 고난을 피할 생각을 하지 말아야 합니다. 그러니 "상황이 어떠하든 우리가 처한 상황이 바로 우리가 있어야하는 상황입니다."
io 시헤서니 아 되니다. 세사이 아무리 하나님의 사 - P163

거듭난 자에게는 특권이 있습니다. 그러나 문제는 우리가 거듭난 후에도 여전히 과거의 습관으로 인해 우리의 ‘새 생명‘을 표현하는 방법을 제대로 알지 못한다는 것입니다. 거듭난 자로서 우리의 영혼을 얻는 방법은
‘인내‘ 입니다(눅 21:19). 이때 ‘안내‘는 과거의 습관에 굴복하지 않고 새로운 영으로 사는 사람이 되기 위한 훈련입니다. - P164

그렇다면 문제는 무엇일까요? "우리는 훈련되지 못한 자신의 본성을 탓하는 대신에 마귀를 탓합니다." 기분에 따라 무언가를 결정한다면, 우리는 훈련되지 않은 어린아이와 같이 행동할 것입니다. 그렇기에 시시각각 변하는 기분에 의지하지 않고 영원한 실재이며 진라이신 하나님의 뜻을 따르는 훈련이 필요합니다.
"우리에게 임하는 대부분의 불행은 하고 싶지 않다‘는 기분 때문에 옵니다. 그리스도인의 삶이란 영적인 결단과 담력이 삶 가운데 나타나는 것입니다." - P164

Luke 21:19 NLT
[19] By standing firm, you will win your souls.
- P164

챔버스는 우리가 ‘기분‘ 때문에 기도해서는 안 된다고 말합니다. 우리 지분은 기도‘로 해결되는 문제가 아니라 ‘결단‘의 문제라는 말입니다. "발로 차버려야 떠납니다. 기분은 언제나 물리적인 조건과 깊은 관계가 있지, 도덕적(영적, 내면적)인것이 아닙니다. 기도하면서 모든 책임을 하나님께 전가하거나 마귀를 탓하지 마십시오. 우리가 기도해야 할 영역이 있고, 우리가 노력해야 할 영역이 있습니다.
- P164

기도와 우리의 노력, 결단은 함께 가야 합니다.
그리스도인은 기도하는 삶이 무기력하지 않도록, 무력한 경건주의자가 되지 않도록 살아야 합니다. 만일 노력하지 않은 채 기도만 하고 있다면, 그것은 내면에
‘교활한 생각‘이 자리 잡고 있는 것입니다. 반대로 우리가 노력만 하고 기도하지않는다면, 우리 속에 ‘교만한 마음이 자리 잡고 있는 것입니다.  - P164

기분에 휘둘리지마십시오. 기도해야 할 것과 노력해야 할 것을 구별하십시오. 하나님을 믿음으로자신에게 주어진 삶에 최선을 다하십시오. ‘수고하는 손‘으로 기도하는 것이야말로 기분에 굴복하지 않고 살아가는 그리스도인의 삶입니다.
- P164

한줄노트 기분에 좌우되는 우리에게는 ‘기도해야 할 것‘과 ‘결단해야 할 것‘을 구별하는 지혜가 필요합니다. - P164

우리가 해야 하는 일은 오로지 한 분 하나님께 집중하...

우리가 해야 하는 일은 오로지 한 분 하나님께 집중하는 것입니다. "영적 성장은 신경을 쓴다고 되는 것이 아니라 하늘 아버지께 마음을 집중함으로 되는 것이라고 예수님께서 가르치십니다." - P162

백합화는 염려하지 않아도 자연적으로 자랍니다. 이처럼 우리 역시 하나님께 집중하면 자연스럽게 영적으로 자랄 것입니다. 자신이 무언가를 하려는 노력은 ‘염려‘에서 나옵니다. 주님을 신뢰하지 못하기 때문에 하나님께 집중하지 못하는 것입니다.  - P162

염려는 ‘신뢰‘와 반비례합니다. 하나님을 향한 믿음이 강해지면 염려는물러갑니다. 말을 많이 하지 않아도, 안절부절하지 않아도 하늘의 별처럼 또 들의 백합화처럼 단순하게 사는 사람들이 세상을 변화시킵니다. 많이 생각하거나염려하지 말고 단순하게 하나님을 바라보아야 합니다. - P162

"만일 하나님께 쓰임 받기를원한다면 예수 그리스도와 바른 관계를 맺으십시오. 그러면 주님께서는 당신이모르는 가운데 당신이 사는 매 순간을 사용하실 것입니다."
우리는 우리의 노력으로 하나님께 유용하게 쓰임 받을 수 있다고 착각합니다. 그러나 우리가 하나님과 올바른 관계에 있을 때, 그래서 하나님을 의지하고 순종하며 그분께 모든 것을 온전히 맡길 때 하나님이 전적으로 일하실 것입니다.  - P162

공중의 새와 들의 백합화를 보십시오. 그들이 노력하지 않아도 하나님께서 알아서 돌보시고 기르십니다.

한줄노트 하나님께 쓰임 받기 위해서는 여러 일로 근심하지 말고 단순하게 주님을 바라보아야 합니다. - P162

Romans 8:35 NLT
[35] Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

- P163

무엇도 우리를 그리스도의 사랑에서 끊을 수 없기 때문입니다. 챔버스가 늘 얘기하듯, 우리는 하나님과의 ‘친밀한 관계‘ 때문에 승리할 수있습니다. 그 어떤 고난도 예수 그리스도 안에 있는 우리와 하나님의 관계에 영향을 미칠 수 없습니다. 고난이 면제되지 않는다면 고난을 피할 생각을 하지 말아야 합니다. 그러니 "상황이 어떠하든 우리가 처한 상황이 바로 우리가 있어야하는 상황입니다." - P163

그러나 우리가 아는 한 가지는 그리스도 예수 안에 있는 하나님의 사랑으로 이 모든 것을 넉넉히 이길 수 있다는 것입니다. 우리는 오늘 묵상의 제목처럼 "나는 그 사랑으로 인해 고난 가운데서 매번 일어납니다"라고 고백할 수 있어야 합니다.  - P163

그 어떤 고난도 우리를 사랑하시는 하나님의의지보다 클 수 없습니다.
한줃노트 고난이 오는 것은 막을 수 없지만 고난 가운데 일어서는 것은 우리가 할 수 있습니다. - P163

Balak is furious with Balaam ...

Balak is furious with Balaam because, instead of cursing the Israelites as herequested, Balaam blesses them at Balak‘s own expense. Balak had provided numerous sacrifices, believing he could buy divine favor. However, hisplan unravels because Balaam obeyed God rather than yielding to bribes.
- P100

To make matters worse, Balak‘s schemes brought a curse upon his ownkingdom.  - P100

This story reminds us that we cannot bargain with God to getHim to give us what we want.  - P100

How can we possibly buy off the one whocreated everything? Our offerings to God should never be an attempt to earn blessings but an expression of gratitude to the one who provides allthat we have.  - P100

God‘s favor is not secured through the giving of materialwealth or through any service we may perform. He gives it freely to thosewho believe and obey Him. - P100

Intercede Together: Nauru
Population: 9,892Major Religions: Protestant 60.4%, Roman Catholic 33.9%
Nauru is a small island located in the Pacific. With limited resources of its own, the nation is in anongoing state of economic instability. Most of the population struggles with unemployment andhealth issues like diabetes. Although the majority identify as Christian and regularly attend church,many have a works-based mindset regarding faith.

Prayer Points
Pray for local believers to gain a better understanding of the gospel.
Praise God for Nauru‘s strong Christian roots and the resources available for teaching the gospel. - P100

The Israelite men engage in sexual immorality with Moabite women and wor-ship Baal of Peor, angering God. God commands Moses to execute the leadersinvolved Phinehas, Aaron‘s grandson, zealously stops a sinful couple, and Godpraises his actions. A plague strikes Israel, killing many, but Phinehas‘s actionsstop the plague. God decrees judgment against the Midianites. - P103

"Can we be friends with non-Christians?" This was a question raised byone of my youth group students. At its core, it reflects an internal strugglebetween two values: the experience of meaningful friendships and the truthof the gospel.  - P105

We naturally form relationships in shared spaces like schoolor work. In the case of romantic relationships, many adults today meetpotential partners online, and it is not uncommon for believers to findsomeone they consider an excellent match-except for their lack of faith.
It is no surprise that many young Christians wrestle with the commands ofScripture where God‘s call for purity feels at odds with our own experience.
It is essential to begin with Jesus, who exemplified different types of relationships. He actively sought out sinners, showing them love and eatingwith them, while also maintaining a close circle of disciples whom He con-sidered His family (Mark 3:34-35). Similarly, Paul does not mandate thatbelievers divorce non-believing spouses, but he also advises the church to
"not be yoked together with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14).  - P105

We are encouragedto cultivate friendships with non-Christians but if living for Christ is our central purpose, we will naturally seek out our closest relationships withinthe church community.
- P105

When God promised to make Israel a blessing to all nations, His purposewas to bring the world to His standards, not the other way around. - P105

Similarly, we desire close friendships within the faith, not because there is something inherently wrong with friendships outside it, but because we desirefriends with whom we can walk side by side as we follow Christ together. - P105

15Then he spoke his message: ...

15Then he spoke his message: "The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,

16the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

17"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.

18Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong.

19A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city."

20Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message: "Amalek was first among the nations, but their end will be utter destruction."

21Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message: "Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock;

22yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Ashur takes you captive."

23Then he spoke his message: "Alas! Who can live when God does this?

24Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus; they will subdue Ashur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin."

25Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.

- P98

Balak, enraged by Balaam‘s blessings, dismisses him, but Balaam continuesto prophesy. He speaks of Israel‘s future dominance and the destruction ofIsrael‘s enemies, including a prophecy about a "star" rising from Jacob. Balaamreturns to his home, and Balak goes his way. - P99