HONORING THE LORD OF THE SABBATH

God Honors Zeal for Himself

God Honors Those Who Honor Him

God Honors Women with an Inheritance

God Honors Godly Leadership

We all need Godly leadership; 

God Honors Israel

God Honors Truth in Action

In this week’s Parasha, we see that Pinchas’ action not only brings salvation to his people by ending the plague, he also obtains a great reward for himself from God.

God honors Pinchas with both the priesthood and an eternal covenant of shalom (peace). (Numbers 25:12–13)

It seems unthinkable that such an act of violence could bring about a covenant of peace with God, but that is what happened.

What might we learn from Pinchas?  Certainly it is not that God honors violence.  But what was He honoring?

God was honoring zeal for Himself.

Pinchas has been compared by the rabbis to Elijah, who also walked in Godly zeal and passion for the Lord.  He boldly confronted the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel to prove that YHVH is Elohim.

God also honored Elijah’s zeal by promising to send him to usher in our Messianicredemption, as it is written:

“I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the coming of the great and awesome day of God.”  (Malachi 4:5)