Numbers 31  Midian was a son of Abraham, born to Keturah, Abraham's wife after Sarah died.  Moses had fled to Midian after running from Pharaoh in Egypt.  He married the daughter of Jethro, a priest of Midian. But, here, these many years later, Midian had become allies with Moab.  They were involved in the seduction of Israel leading into idol worship and immorality.  It was a Midianite woman that came into the camp with Zimri, a Simeonite, and brought about a plague.  It was at that time that the Lord told Moses "Be hostile to the Mideanites and strike them; for they have been hostile to you with their tricks, with which they have deceived you in the affair of Peor...." Numbers 25:17-18. 

The Midianites were involved with Balaam, who counseled them "in the matter of Peor" (Numbers 31:16). Because of this the Lord told Moses to send out an army.. 1000 soldiers from each tribe.  So 12,000 Israelites soldiers went to war.  "..they killed the kings of Midian along with the rest of the slain; Evil and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian; they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword." ( v8)  All the males were killed and all the women and children were captured.  All their cities and camps were burned.  They brought back a great amount of booty.. animals, goods, gold and silver.. and people. 

When they returned to Moses.. he made them kill all the women who had been "intimate" with a man.. these were the ones who would be involved in idolatry and immorality.  However, they spared all the girls who were still innocent...32,000 of them.  All the male children were killed.  It sounds so brutal to us. Yet, the Lord ordered this for His purposes, knowing the temptations and the struggles that lay ahead for His people. 

All of the booty was split between the 12,000 soldiers, of which none had been lost during the fighting.. and the rest of the congregation.  A portion was levied as a tax from both halves and given to the Levites and Eleazar the priest.  It was a massive amount of sheep, donkeys, cattle, and people... the girls.  After that the men who had gone to war brought another offering, thankful that none of their army had been killed. They brought "articles of gold, armlets, and bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord." ( v50)

Not quite a pleasant Christmas passage for today.... This is a message about judgement.  The nation of Midian had not only turned away from the Lord.. they had purposely tried to entice Israel from Him too.  The Lord sees what the nations are doing.. He sees what our own nation is doing.  He will judge the nations.  Psalm 46:10 says, "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  It is not a matter of if.. but a matter of when.  Zechariah 2:11 says, "And many nations will join themselves to the Lord in that day and become my people.. "  And this becomes my prayer.. 

Lord, may it be that our nation will join herself with You and be Your people!  Let the United States of America come to repentance and exalt the Lord God! Father, we know that You are near to all who call on You.. Hear us we pray and save us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.