Standing Strong |
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Pinchas and the Use of the Spear
By Caniyah Ben Rachamim |
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It took a great deal of spiritual “guts” for Pinchas to act in a way that was contrary to how everyone else was acting. Likewise, those around us will always criticize us for our religious actions. “Why are you wearing tzitzit? Why don’t you eat ham?” etc. Even within the Messianic Community, criticism abounds one way or the other over simple faithful practice. Those who are more observant will sometimes say cutting remarks about newcomers who are less observant. Or those who have never moved forward into greater observance will criticize those who have shifted towards orthopraxy. For example, those who don’t believe structured prayer services are appropriate might routinely criticize those who practice the spiritual discipline of praying from the Siddur on a consistent daily basis. I’ve even heard some Messianics claim that the practice of the shuckle (the bobbing motion of bowing before God) is actually done intentionally to portray a vulgar sexual motion! I’ve even heard some Messianics claim that the Siddur is nothing short of a book of spells and that the cantillation of the prayers (the “singing”) is actually a magical “incantation”! It is so easy to turn around and mock others, mock any attempt at drawing closer to God through personal effort. They will always call for repentance, but they will mock any efforts towards repentance on the other person’s part. “Oh, he has never actually repented,” they will snidely say behind the other person’s back. We as a movement are in a self-destructive mess which is built on tearing others down.
There are those who think that they are in the office of Pinchas – ready to spear whomever they think have done wrong. It is so easy for us to go grabbing for the spears and start stabbing those whom we think are displeasing God. The spearing is rarely a literal killing (though there have been cases of Christian white supremacists that have killed people, thinking that they are fulfilling the role of Pinchas). The more commonly accepted tactic is to use words – and the internet makes it much easier to anonymously defame a person to the four winds before the person even knows that something is being said about them. The Accuser of the Brethren is always at work in the Body of Messiah – looking for recruits to his office.
We get into trouble when we look at Scripture with only one eye. We look with our physical eye at this account here in Numbers about Pinchas killing a couple of people and getting all this blessing from God. We start thinking, “hey I could get some praise for myself as well if I start attacking people!” Not so fast – Pinchas was acting out of zealousness for God without any thought for himself. If anything, his thought for himself might have been concern about being hauled before the judges on a charge of murder! But nevertheless, he acted without any concern for any consequences that he might endure because of his actions. Pinchas wasn’t imitating anyone with his actions. So if you think that you can imitate his methods in order to get the same blessing, then you are likely to run into problems. A different (and negative) result may occur in your life. Remember Shaul HaMelekh (King Saul). He too tried to use a spear against someone – David. He was not acting in accord with God’s Will. In fact, David, despite his sin with Bathsheba, was said to be “a man after God’s own heart”. Sometimes when we think we are acting in the role of Pinchas, we are actually following the tactic of Shaul and attacking the anointed of God.
We need to use our spiritual eye to look at this situation as well as our physical eye. By using both eyes, we will see deeper into the situation.
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Isaiah 11:6 2 Thessalonians 2:15 |