Godly Jealousy

Num 31:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 31:2 Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.
Num 31:3 And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.

The Israelites, by God's direction, launched an attack against Midian in revenge for Midian's degradation of Israel in chapter 25, culminating with the following verses;

Num 25:16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 25:17 Vex the Midianites, and smite them:
Num 25:18 For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.

As a result, they took the spoils, or booty of them the following; 675,000 sheep, 72,000 cattle, 61,000 donkeys and 32,000 virgin girls.

This is so dramatic, so drastic. Yet, it shows the tremendous jealousy God has over His people. He wants NOTHING to come between Himself and His own. He wants NOTHING to usurp our allegiance to Him. If God went to these lengths to destroy the Midianites and to preserve His people, I can only imagine the battle that transpires between God and the enemy to preserve our fidelity to Him.

God, Who bought us with His dear Son's blood, is deserving of our loyalty and we should be sober and guarded of the relationship He desires to build with us.

God, let nothing come between me and you today. Allow me to be alert to the devil's devices. May our fellowship be strengthened today. Help me to be as jealous over your sheep as you are over me. In Jesus' name, Amen!