Plague

 and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped.
Numbers 25:8 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/num.25.8.ESV

We might be tempted to raise our eyebrows at such brutality and move on to a new testament passage about love. Yet if we rush away from this scene, we fail to appreciate the gravity of sin. Too often we minimise sin and make God out to be some brutal monster.

Adultery, idolatry, and being unequally yoked with unbelievers aren't things to be shrugged off. They are an affront to a holy God. The Israelites were committing adultery, idolatry and unequal young with a pagan nation.

God doesn't just let people get away with sin, especially His own people. There are consequences to our wrongdoings. God visited a plague upon His people for their evils.

A zealous priest caught an Israelite in the act of adultery, and skewered him with a spear for his affront against the Holy One. So the plague was stopped. For us to be delivered from hell requires a solution no less drastic: the crucifixion of the Son of God.

'Holy One, forbid that we should grieve You with our sins. May we be holy as You are holy. In Christ's name we pray, amen'

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