Subtle Seduction (Numbers 25)

Numbers 25:1 1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.

Satan will try anyway to corrupt and defile God’s people. When he could not bring an outright curse upon them, he used Balaam to bring about a more subtle attack. He advised the Midianites to invite the Israelites to their religious feasts which involved immoral sexual practices. These practices were a powerful draw on them, and this seduction was successful in bringing about the destruction of 24,000 Jews!

How we need to be on guard not just against outright attacks but also subtle seductions of the heart into other sin, particularly sexual sin. Many a man or woman has been taken down through this means. The warning of Proverbs 7:24-26 deals with this directly,

24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, And attend to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, Go not astray in her paths. 26 For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 27 Her house is the way to hell, Going down to the chambers of death.