Num 25:7-8, 7 Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through,… So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel
Phineas in this verse is mentioned and his immediate puzzling action. He was Aaron’s grandson, a priest from the lineage of priests and one of the judges appointed by Moses. He was instrumental in leading Israel in weeping before God in repentance, but when he saw what Zimri did, a holy indignation at the offenders boiled within him. He rose up from his prayers, took his sword and went and killed Zimri and his harlot. But what drove a man to take such drastic action that would be condemned by everyone? the zeal for God. He saw the perversion and with readiness, he acted because God’s great name was on the line. While others may have been slow to act including Moses, something was boiling within him perhaps in memory of what happened to his two uncles Nadab and Abihu who offered strange fire before God and God consumed them, (Lev 10). He realized God’s name, His doctrine, His worship will not be mocked. His actions moved God to immediately stop the plague the first indication that his actions were acceptable to God.
Our weeping and praying prevail not until necessary justices are done. If leaders/magistrates overlook or do not take care to deal with sin, God will; but their justice will be the best prevention of His judgment, as in the case of Achan (Josh 7:13). As in with Joshua, he stopped praying and went and dealt with Achan before their plagues also stopped. This tells us something, there are certain prayers that are not answered until we have dealt with what is revealed (sin, injustices, unforgiveness), they taint the vessel.