WOMEN'S BIBLE RETREAT
  • Home
  • What is Salvation?
  • Women’s Bible Study


Women’s ​Bible Study

"...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead
."
 

Philippians 3:8-11 (NKJV)

Influencing Others

6/6/2022

0 Comments

 
Influencing Others - Women's Bible Retreat
​“Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the Lord.”  Numbers 31:16
The Israelites experienced the Lord’s judgment for following the Midianites after engaging in sin against the Lord. The Israelites were fully responsible for their willful disobedience and as a result, 24,000 died in the plague. The plague against Israel was to signify the consequences of rebellion against the Lord and it served as a reminder of the Lord’s holiness and His great disdain against sin. The Lord in His great mercy, warned the Israelites numerous times of idolatry and rebellion; however, the Israelites succumbed to temptation and turned away from the Lord.

We recall in Numbers 22 and 23, Balak hired Balaam, a diviner, to curse the Israelites because he feared their increasing population. Balak presumed that because the Israelites engaged in wars, defeated other leaders, and conquered their territory, that soon he would also be conquered. After Balaam’s encounter with the angel of the Lord, he spoke to Balak as though he feared the Lord and that he would only do and only speak what the Lord instructed. We later read that at the counsel of Balaam, the Midianites led the Israelites to sin against the Lord. The Lord then instructed Moses to engage in war against Midian for the purpose of executing the Lord’s holy anger and to restore honor among the people.
Influencing Others - Women's Bible Retreat
​As the Lord’s vengeance was carried out towards the Midianites, we are able to see the Lord’s holiness and His desire to protect His own by enacting judicial punishment towards those that lead others into sin. Balaam, who devised the scheme to lure the Israelites into idolatry and immortality, as well as the Midianites who followed his instructions, died because of their actions. Balaam and the Midianites’ sinful choices show us that those who not only rebel in sin against the Lord will face His wrath, but also those who lead others into sin will experience His judgment.

We all influence others and can be influenced by others in some way. The Israelites were influenced by the Midianites and were responsible for their choice to sin against the Lord. The Midianites were influenced by Balaam and were responsible for their sinful enticement of the Israelites. Balaam was influenced, and yielded to creating the plot to entice the Israelites and was responsible for his sinful influence. Each individual was punished by the Lord’s wrath for his or her responsibility and choice to sin.

Think of your influence upon others. Do you lead them to Christ, or do you lead them towards rebellion against Christ? Think about how you are being influenced by others. Are you being influenced to love Christ more, or are you being influenced to love what the Lord hates? You are responsible for your decisions and the consequences that follow will be based upon your choices. As you think about the power of influence, choose to lead and be led to love and honor the Lord in all that you think, say, and do and always influence others to do the same.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    ​"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
    But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." Proverbs 31:30

    I am a woman of God, who by the grace of God, is seeking to know and love Christ more through the study of His Word and I am joyfully walking this journey with others that desire the same.  I thank God for your desire to know and love Him more!  ​

    ​Until He calls us home...

    Categories

    All
    1 Corinthians
    Christmas
    Deuteronomy
    Exodus
    Genesis
    How To Study The Bible
    Isaiah
    James
    Joshua
    Lamentations
    Leviticus
    Matthew
    Mother's Day
    New Year's Day
    Numbers
    Philippians
    Proverbs
    Psalms
    Resurrection Day
    Romans
    Thanksgiving
    Titus
    Valentine's Day

    RSS Feed

© 2021-2022 Women’s Bible Retreat. All rights reserved.
Photos used under Creative Commons from David Paul Ohmer, Gatorgoon, David Paul Ohmer, DrGBB, NathalieSt, inkknife_2000 (12 million views), michaelmueller410, Thomas James Caldwell, Tony Armstrong-Sly, Marian Elizabeth May, CarlH_, G Yancy, James St. John, denisbin, Frank Pickavant, island deborah- New Book "Song of the Sparrow" vig, denisbin, G. Lamar, BLM Oregon & Washington, Nicholas_T, cattan2011, rlanvin, wuestenigel, Onasill ~ Bill - Be Safe, G Yancy, LDELD, G Yancy
  • Home
  • What is Salvation?
  • Women’s Bible Study