Numbers 25- 31: On the Edge of God's Promise

While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the LORD’s anger burned against them. -Num 25:1-3 NIV

Even while the hand of God was protecting them, the Israelites were enticed by their neighbors to go against God's commands.  This is a new generation; the children of those who refused to enter the promised land.  They're camped on the outskirts of the land that will be theirs, yet that promise is not enough to keep them from turning to other gods and pleasures.  How did all of this come about?  Perhaps it is revealed in the following words of Moses.

“Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD’s people.  - Num 31:15-16 NIV

Baalam, just like Satan is wont to do, saw their vulnerability.  He was unable to get God to curse the Israelites, so his second attempt would be to entice them away from their God.  God is constant.  His people are not.  They were caught up in sin even as they were standing on the edge of God's promise. Perhaps the closer we get to all that God has created us for, all of his promises, the more vulnerable we become to the tempting lies of the enemy.