Lesson 251: CONSEQUENCE OF ABIDING IN SHITTIM

INTRODUCTION:
The children of Israel were encamped at Shittim looking forward to crossing over Jordan to passess the Lord of Canaan. Instead of being steadfast in their relationship with God, they backslide and paid a terrible price. For destroying God and engaging in immoral acts and religious pollution, a raged in their midst which killed 24,000 people. God ordered Moses to execute other transgressors. Phinehas, son of Eleazer was promised everlasting priesthood for publicly avenging against the law of God.

1. THE SIGNIFICANT OF SHITTIM

Shittim is a wilderness tree which reflects the earthly qualities of Jesus Christ. More important, it was an encampment which was locationally, spiritually, strategically and symbolically significant for the children of Israel.

Isa. 41:19-20; Isa. 53:2; Exo. 25:5; 10,13,26:15,26, 32; 27:1, 6; 30:1, 5; Num. 22:24; Num. 26; Exo. 33:33-35, 34; Num. 31; Num 27:1-11; Num. 28:30.

2. CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCE OF ABIDING IN SHITTIM

Country to God’s will, the children of Israel yielded to temptation on the plains of Moab. They committed fornication, ate food to idols, worshipped Moabites idols especially Baal-power. The consequences were grave as God visited his righteous indignation and judgement on them.

Num. 25:1; Gen. 19:37; Num. 25:2,4,5,9; Exo. 6:25; Exo. 25:7,8.

3. WHAT IS YOUR SHITTIM?

Like the children of Israel, many believers today nurse their Shittim which delay them from reaching the promised land and even Despair, sadness, envy, prayerlessness, yielding, worry, anger, pride, etc. we should understand their nature and know how to deal with them at source, may god grant us the grace to do so.

Ex. 6:6-9; Job. 7:6; 3:21; Jer. 8:3; Jona. 4:3; Acts 13:44-45; Isa. 64:7; Gen. 3:6; 13:10-13; 25:29, 30,33, I Kings 3:11-14, Mark 10:35, 37; Matt. 6:31-32; Luke 10:40; Luke 17:14, 15, 17.