2 Cor. 12:21, Num. 25; Examine Yourself for Sexual Immorality (1)

Why was this an issue in a church, worthy of special mention by the Apostle?  The answer was that the Corinthian believers had participated in uncleanness, fornication and lewdness before they had come to Christ.  It was generally accepted as permissible (as it tends to be in western society these days).  Likely it was one of the areas they struggled with in terms of putting off the old man.

1.     We encounter a “problematical situation.”

There is no shortage of temptations (seductive situations) these days.  Every media outlet seems to glorify sex or parade women (and men) in seductive clothing or situations.  Business knows that sex sells as is evident from its prominence in advertising.  The same is true of movie, music, sports and tourism.  We should, however, note that this is not new.  We can find these situations in the Scriptures and the outcome was not always God-honoring.

a.     Gen. 38: Judah, the son of Jacob, and the tribal ancestor of Jesus engaged in sexual immorality.  He had a relationship with a prostitute after his wife had died.  Likely he was lonely; he may have felt justified, though in the end he didn’t (38:26)..  He did this even though he knew it was not acceptable behavior, even among the Canaanites with whom he lived (Gen. 38:23, lest we be shamed).

b.     Gen. 39: Joseph, another of Jacob’s sons, encountered a problematical situation when his boss’s wife tried to get him to have a sexual relationship with her.  In his case, he resisted and in such a way that we can see many good principles in his resistance to sin.

c.      Num. 25: Phinehas the grandson of Aaron the priest also stood strong for righteousness when confronted with fornication.  A lot of people were doing it.  The women were beautiful.  And the two participants were from important families in their respective nations.  But Phinehas took a stand and God rewarded him.

d.     2 Sam. 11:1-5: David didn’t go to war with the rest of the army; he stayed behind with all the lonely wives.  He was king after all.  Today we would call this abuse of power although there doesn’t seem to be any resistance from the “victim.”  It is the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life all rolled up together.  And his life was never the same, in the worst way imaginable.

e.      2 Sam. 13:1-18: David’s son Amnon followed in his footsteps.  He loved his sister, raped her, and then hated her.  He confused love and lust, a common error in the world where feelings rule.  He could rape her because he was stronger than she was.  And he was, after all, the king’s son.

Again, we should think about these situations?  And then about our situations?  What kinds of situations have you found to be a real trial in this area?