This chapter describes the Lord’s vengeance upon Midian for misleading Israel (this refers back to Num 25, which ties into the Balak & Balaam accounts [Num 22-24]).
“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.’ So Moses spoke to the people, saying, ‘Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute the Lord’s vengeance on Midian. You shall send a thousand from each of the tribes of Israel to the war.’ ” (v1-4)
At this point, 12,000 warriors from Israel invade and destroy Midian, killing every male (including Balaam who was hired to curse them). They burn the cities to the ground, plunder all valuables (roughly 400lbs of gold) and livestock (roughly 725,000 animals), and bring back all of the women as captives. Moses becomes angry with the army’s leaders commands they kill all of the women who have laid with a man (for they are the ones who misled Israel at the Peor incident), but the virgins could live (for they were innocent).
Once the war was over, God commanded the spoils be divided up, and a tithe be given to Him (to the Levites for the work of the Lord). Israel obeyed as God/Moses commanded. All the warriors, captives and spoils underwent a ritual cleansing before they were allowed into Israel’s camp.
Here’s the truly miraculous part: “Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army… came near to Moses and said to Moses, ‘Your servants have counted the men of war who are under our command, and there is not a man missing from us.’ ” (v48-49) Though there isn’t a population stated for Midian, based on population statistics and the number of survivors (32,000) I’m estimating there were 228,500 people in Midian. This means 12,000 Israelites killed 196,500 Midianites (they were outnumbered 19 to 1) without suffering a single casualty – truly God was with them.
My challenge for today is we seek to do things in cooperation with God, out of obedience to Him. When we’re in alignment with God, we can face 19 to 1 odds 12,000 times and emerge victorious (mathematically, there is a 0% chance of those odds ending favorably [0.05^12000 = 0]). Against “impossible odds”, God prevails, proving His omnipotence. I suggest we align ourselves with Him as often as possible.
Father God, Almighty Lord, You are unmatched in wisdom and power. We humbly praise You, for You alone are worthy of our praise. Father You are outside the laws of logic, probability and math, for it is through You those things even exist. Father we ask that You would teach us to be obedient, to listen with our ears and hearts. Father help us to follow You every moment of every day, so we may be delivered from temptation and sin. We cannot beat the odds on our own strength and wisdom, only You can overcome the impossible, for through You all things are possible. Jesus, please be our guide and light. Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training