The fire of God's wrath that fell upon Christ

Numbers 31:7-11 (KJV)
And they warred against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. [8] And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely , Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword. [9] And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods. [10] And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire. [11] And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts.

They slew all the males. See how the vengeance of God came upon justly upon Midian. Midian seduced the men of Israel to commit fornication and idolatry, effectively killing their souls with sin. And many of the Israelites died physically in the plague by the judgment of God. It is fitting then, that God avenges them by killing all the males, just as they killed the males of Israel with sin.

One may ask here, 'was God unjust?' No. Midian deserves the sentence of Satan, for their intention was that by sinning Israel may die, and be cursed, by God's hands. The fact that Midian knew that what they were offering Israel were evil and displeasing to God adds to their condemnation. This is what their spiritual father, the devil, did to Adam and Eve. Knowing that God hates evil, they repented not from it themselves, but instead offered it to others that they may receive God's punishment. This is pure evil, and putting God to the test, using His righteousness for their own evil purposes. Those who do such things shall certainly receive the wrath of God, unless they repent.

It's worthy to note briefly here that sexual sin slays men. Midian successfully slaughtered the males of Israel by the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life through what their women made them do. Sexual sin is the sharpest of the thorns that chokes the word of God growing in a man's heart. It has possibly condemned men to eternal death more than any other sin. It is sin like no other, for it is sin against one's own body. It is great offense against God to use the body He has made to give glory to Him for glorification and worship of self-pleasure. It kills a Christian's ministry and the assurance of salvation and defiles his conscience more than anything. It destroys the image of God that is within him, and turns him into the likeness of an unclean beast. It surely killed the God-given purpose that God had given Israel. They became content with the wilderness, and forsook the hope that God had given them of Canaan. Likewise, sexual sin makes a Christian lose all hope in heaven, but instead through it he becomes a friend of the world, and thus an enemy of God. It was fitting then, that Midian have likewise have all their males slaughtered by the hand of God. God has returned upon their head what they desired for Israel.

See then, the severity of God's judgment upon sinners, especially them that put stumblingblocks before the people of God. The wages of sin is surely death, and Midian has received it to the full. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Almighty God, and to be found as His enemy. There is nothing written of the males of Midian even attempting to fight back. They simply were all slaughtered as in a blink of an eye. For if God goes forth in war, who can stop Him? Even the devil trembles at the army of God. He is the Creator, and none can withstand Him when He goes forth to destroy His enemies. There is none stronger than Him, for it is God who made them all. If the Lord had commanded destruction upon sinners, it shall come as a whirlwind and no man shall stop it. Let us warn sinners of this judgment of God that is coming upon the world.

The passage also points out that the 5 kings of Midian were killed, and also Balaam the wicked prophet. The five kings were most likely the leaders of Midian that had consulted Balaam in the beginning that he would curse Israel for them. So we see here the end of those who plot evil against the people of God. Those who would curse God's blessed have the curses return to them. As God has said to Abraham:
Genesis 12:3 (KJV)
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
And what a bitter end to those who rebel against God. We are reminded of how their death came about. The nations of Moab and Midian were afraid of Israel. It began with unnecessary fear, which led to sin, which led to death. What about Balaam? He began with lust for riches, which led to unfaithfulness to God's voice, which led to sin, which led to death.

It is also interesting that the scripture puts Balaam among these kings of Midian. It is likely that Balaam was promoted to high honour as he was promised by Balak for the doctrine he had taught him. He was possibly counted among the kings, perhaps as a lord over the magicians and soothsayers in the land. They would have given him great riches, as he was originally promised, and no doubt Balaam got what he always lusted after.

But how fleeting is the pleasures of sin? It is for a short season, but afterward comes the eternal bitterness of death as a consequence. Balaam was so deceived, though he spoke the right things and he saw great things of God. How well did He prophesy of the future of Israel, fate of Moab and even of Christ to come? But see how he died the death of the wicked. He was used of God, but he was not a man of God. Spirit of God was with him, but the Spirit never dwelt in him. Like Judas, he sold his God for the likeness of 30 pieces of silver, and like Esau, his integrity for a pot of stew to satisfy his lusts. It was the love of money that killed him in the end. He worshipped money, and treasured the praise of men more than the praise of God.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 (KJV)
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. [10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Balaam surely drowned in destruction and perdition, and pierced himself with the sorrow of everlasting death. The honour that was promised to him, how short-lived and cursed was it! God could have granted him eternal honour and eternal treasures of life.

What do we learn from this poor man who lusted after fame and riches, but in the end had none of these things? What are we to do, if we do not want the same end as Balaam? Paul gives the answer to Timothy:
1 Timothy 6:11-12 (KJV)
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. [12] Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Let us follow after Jesus Christ, who is righteousness, godless, faith, love, patience and meekness. Let us chase after Him who is our eternal life. We do not want temporary life, but we want life that lasts forever, that which satisfies our hunger and thirst forever. This life is in the person of Jesus Christ alone.

And they burnt all their cities with fire. God avenges Midian with not only the sword, but with fire. This fire is the same that fell from the Lord upon the cities of Sodom and Gommorah. It is the sign of God's eternal punishment and recompense upon the wicked. Read Jude:
Jude 1:7 (KJV)
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Midian likewise gave themselves over to fornication and going after strange flesh, and received the punishment of eternal fire that Sodom received as an example. God meaning that they not only were sentenced to physical death, but eternal punishment for their sin. The full wages of sin is eternal death. Here we do well to remember the gospel, that the fire of God's vengeance fell from the heaven upon the altar of the cross on the hill of Calvary, that we who believe may be saved from the wrath of God. We deserve this fire as much as Sodom and Midian. Israel sinned as much as they have. We all have likewise sinned. But Christ has suffered the fire of God for us, that God's grace and His mercy may fall upon us.

Children of Israel also took the women and children of Midian captives. By making the men of Israel commit adultery, Midian had caused the women and children of Israel to suffer. It is fitting that the women and children suffer likewise in captivity. We learn here then when men are led into sexual sin, their wives and children suffer greatly. What shame and sorrow do they suffer because their husbands or fathers are not faithful to their family. God will sure avenge, as He has done here.

Also the captivity shows these Midianites' captivity to sin. They are slaves to sin, led by their lusts wherever they led them. We do well to be led by the Holy Spirit rather than the lusts of our flesh. We are to put to death our lusts on the cross through the body of Christ, lest we be taken in chains and led captive by our lusts. There is no way to reform them. We have no option but to die to them. Being led by lusts is to live for my own self. Being led by the Spirit is to live for the One who died for us, and rose again. Lest we be overcome by sin that lies at the door, let us master it not by wrestling with it, but dying unto it, for he that died has been freed from death. Lord, grant us the faith to reckon ourselves dead unto sin. Amen.