Your eyes have seen what Jehovah did because of Baal-Peor; for all the men that followed Baal-Peor, Jehovah thy God hath destroyed them from among you;
Moses points back to fresh graves that the people had seen with their own eyes. What happened at Peor is his proof, and the question is what the survivors will do with it.
The place-name carries both halves of the story.
It was to Peor that Balaam was called to curse Israel, and where the people were trapped into sacrificing to the gods of Moab, eating things sacrificed to their idols, and committing sexual sin. So Israel joined himself to Baal-peor — he had full fellowship with its demon worship and the uncleanness that went with it.
The curse had failed, so the attack changed shape. One writer names who planned it, and how far Israel fell.
Balaam, the agent of the devil, taught Moab the art of seducing the people who were known as the LORD's people; and he found in Israel fit material to work on. They were familiar with idolatry. Delivered from the land of the grossest idolatry, they carried the love of it in their hearts... Now they join themselves to Baal-peor and sink lower in their idolatrous orgies than when they worshipped the golden calf at Horeb.
The verse comes right after the command not to add to God's word or take from it. That order is the argument.
This again makes it plain, without many words from us, what Moses — or rather God Himself — has in view in all these chapters. It is obedience... So this fact also is used. The LORD had cut down the former generation for their disobedience.
Another writer ties that rule straight to the graves at Peor.
Obedience is only obedience when loyalty is complete, never tampering with the law book. There must be no addition, which would raise man's word to God's; no subtraction, reducing God's word to man's... Israel had learned this from experience: where were the men who went after Baal-peor? But those who held fast to the LORD lived.
Both sides were guilty, and one writer finds a settled principle in the order God chose.
But let us note well that before the LORD said, "Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites," He had avenged Himself on the people of Israel. By His command Moses said to the judges, "Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor"... It is said in the New Testament that judgment must begin at the household of God (see 1 Peter 4:17). And so God began with Israel. To begin at home is the true and right way.
Verse 3 records who died. The verse right after it records who lived.
Moses reminds Israel also of the corruption that led to judgment at Baal-Peor (Num. 25:1-9). This sinful association was a violation of the Word of God, and the Lord God destroyed those Israelites who mixed with the women of Moab (v. 3). Compromise with the enemy will ruin a testimony for God. "But you," Moses says, "who held fast to the LORD your God are all alive today" (v. 4). This is an encouragement.
The tactic did not die with Balaam. One writer traces it forward to the believer today.
Balaam taught Balak to seduce the Israelites into idolatry and dealings with his own people — that is, with the pagan world. In the same way, Satan tries to draw the believer into what abandons Christ's claims, and gives the world supreme control over his heart.
- Snare — The curse failed, so an invitation did the work instead. Israel joined itself to Baal-peor in full fellowship.
- Judgment — God dealt with His own people first, before those who tempted them. Correction begins at home.
- Survivors — The men listening were living proof. Those who held fast to God were alive that day, and Moses says so to encourage them.
- Memory — Moses appeals to what they saw with their own eyes. Their own history is his argument for keeping God's word whole.
- Loyalty — Compromise with the enemy ruins a testimony. The trap Balaam designed is still set for believers today.
but ye that did cleave to Jehovah your God are alive every one of you this day.
Moses stands with a new generation on the edge of the land. He points to two things they can still see: the graves of those who joined Baal-peor, and their own lives. The verse turns a national disaster into a personal question — why are you the ones still alive?
These chapters have one aim, and Moses proves it from recent history. God cut one generation down for disobedience, and the rest are still standing.
This again makes it plain enough. Few words from us are needed to show what Moses, or rather God Himself, has in view in all these chapters. It is obedience. "Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Baal-peor, for the LORD your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Baal of Peor." So Moses uses this fact too. Jehovah had cut down the former generation for their disobedience.
Obedience here means keeping God's word exactly as He gave it. Moses forbids adding anything to it or taking anything away, and Baal-peor showed Israel what hangs on that.
The voice preaches obedience. But it is only obedience when it is loyalty that never gives way and never tampers with the book of God's laws. Nothing may be added, for that would lift man's word up to God's. Nothing may be taken away, for that would pull God's word down to man's… This, experience had shown to Israel: where were the men that went after Baal-peor? But those who clung to Jehovah lived.
At Baal-peor, Israelites mixed with the women of Moab and joined their idol worship. The ruin came through the company they kept.
Moses reminds Israel also of the corruption that led to judgment at Baal-Peor (Num. 25:1-9). This sinful partnership broke the Word of God, and the Lord God destroyed the Israelites who mixed with the women of Moab (v.3). Compromise with the enemy will ruin a testimony for God. "But you," Moses says, "who held fast to the Lord your God are alive today" (v.4). This is an encouragement.
God judged Israel first, before He judged the people who had led them astray. Moses later used that as a warning.
Note it well. Before Jehovah said, "Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites," He had avenged Himself on the people of Israel… The New Testament says that judgment must begin at the house of God (see 1 Peter 4:17). And so God began with Israel. To begin at home is the true and right way. It is a divine principle… The Lord teaches the same holy principle of starting with self before correcting others: take the log out of your own eye before you look for the speck in your brother's.
Older translations render "held fast" as "cleave." One writer defines the word and shows what it looks like in the New Testament.
To cleave to someone means to cling to him and to not let him go. In the language of the New Testament, it is dedication, devotion and commitment to the Lord Jesus. Acts 11 gives a striking example. Barnabas comes to Antioch and sees the work of divine grace in believers who are still young in the faith and come from a pagan background. Verse 23 says: "When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose" (older translations: "cleave unto the Lord").
Another writer describes that grip as the heart taken up with Christ Himself.
It is a soul captured by the beauty of the One it loves and given up wholly to Christ. Such a soul finds a power in Him that lifts it above every difficulty and keeps it from all danger. "Your right hand upholds me."
Clinging is practical. It keeps your supply line open while you live in enemy country.
A general going to war will not let the enemy outflank him and cut him off from his base, if he can help it. He knows that once he is cut off from his base, defeat will overtake him. We are in an enemy's country, so we too must cling to the base of our supplies. We must keep in constant touch with the One in whom our resources are.
- Warning — God destroyed every man who joined himself to Baal-peor. The graves still preach.
- Compromise — the ruin came through joining with the enemy, and compromise wrecks a testimony for God.
- Home first — God judged His own people before He judged those who led them astray. Correction starts at home.
- Hold fast — to cling means to take hold and not let go: devotion of heart, not mere agreement.
- Alive — those who clung to God survived the day of judgment, and staying close to Him remains the line of supply.