The Smile That Is Stronger Than The Sword

Numbers 22-24 describe the efforts of Balak to convince the prophet Baalam to put a curse on the children of Israel; within that account is the well-known event involving Baalam's donkey. In chapters 23 and 24, Baalam refuses to put a curse on the children of Israel, which places great fear in the life of Balak the king of Moab, especially since the memory of what the Lord did through the children of Israel with the Amorites is still on the mind of King Balak.

Chapter 25 begins with the proverbial smile that is stronger than the sword. While the sword of Balak and his armies was not able to defeat the Israelites, the women of Moab brought defeat within the camp. God commands Moses to kill all of the leaders of the people that have fallen prey to the harlots. The digression in the hearts of the children of Israel is evident when one of those leaders brings one of the harlots right into the camps of the children of Israel - seemingly, not even blushing about the sin. The end result is the death to 24,000 men!

Matthew Henry comments: "We are more endangered by the charms of a smiling world, than by the terrors of a frowning world." The frowning world is evident all around us: we need not look further than the evening news, the legislature, and the anti-Christians sentiments being introduced in the name of "education". The question for us to consider: how aware are we of the charms of the smiling world around us? The proverbial Moabite women who sneak into our hearts and homes inch-by-inch, and before long we are not even aware that we should be blushing! Boldness and pride have replaced shame! The smile is indeed stronger than the sword!