I love that Phinehas was so zealous for God as to take this rumor seriously enough to address NOW! I also love that Phinehas was patient enough and in his zeal inquired first to understand. Knowing Phinehas, if the offense had been legit, he was ready to throw down a la Num. 25. I love that his zeal was for the Lord. Not revenge or human offense, but God and his offense alone. When it was revealed that the eastern tribes were not dabbling in paganism, it satisfied the zealous rage inspired in Phinehas and he backed off. There was not reason to fight. It was a misunderstanding. All too often people seem to either be quick to fight or quick to overlook things. Phinehas demonstrates a beautiful balance that can only be inspired by the Spirit of Christ. Zeal enough to turn over money changing tables and patience enough to hear someone out, to get to the real source of the problem. The attentive ear and the courage to act boldly in response if the ear's attentiveness should discover real sin, not a misunderstanding, but evil. For this primary reasons I named my son Finneas. I want him to be like that. Courageous enough to put down evil and fight the good fights, but not so zealous to fight as to overlook the motivations and intents of those whose actions and words pique a sense of injustice or wrongness.
I love that Phinehas was so zealous for God as to take this rumor seriously enough to address NOW! I also love that Phinehas was patient enough and in his zeal inquired first to understand. Knowing Phinehas, if the offense had been legit, he was ready to throw down a la Num. 25. I love that his zeal was for the Lord. Not revenge or human offense, but God and his offense alone. When it was revealed that the eastern tribes were not dabbling in paganism, it satisfied the zealous rage inspired in Phinehas and he backed off. There was not reason to fight. It was a misunderstanding. All too often people seem to either be quick to fight or quick to overlook things. Phinehas demonstrates a beautiful balance that can only be inspired by the Spirit of Christ. Zeal enough to turn over money changing tables and patience enough to hear someone out, to get to the real source of the problem. The attentive ear and the courage to act boldly in response if the ear's attentiveness should discover real sin, not a misunderstanding, but evil. For this primary reasons I named my son Finneas. I want him to be like that. Courageous enough to put down evil and fight the good fights, but not so zealous to fight as to overlook the motivations and intents of those whose actions and words pique a sense of injustice or wrongness.
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