Num 25:10-11, 10 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 11 “Phinehas…has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal”.
Phinehas’ act of killing Zimri turned God’s wrath from Israel, (24,000 had died at this point). Moses may have confronted him on his action but God defended Phinehas just as He defended Moses when Miriam and Aaron spoke against him. Phinehas possessed God’s zeal and God dubbed it His zeal. “He did it with extraordinary zeal against sin, and for the honor of God and Israel, and did it when the other judges, out of respect to Zimri’s character as a prince, were afraid, and declined doing it, therefore God showed himself particularly well pleased with him, and it was counted to him for righteousness” (Matthew Henry).
Several leaders in the Christian circles have committed idolatry by perverting the gospel and preaching another gospel (introducing heresy). While those who should stand and speak against such have been quite or have given seal of approval or empowered them, they continue to be bold in their perverse ways. I praise God for a small remnant of Phinehases with the zeal of God to thrust the javelin (God’s word) at the heart of the perversion (sin). I commend ministers willing to stand to defend the gospel and its truth from those who have hijacked it. Phinehas zeal was birthed in prayer time/meeting.