BYM ONLINE DESK Blessing February 2019 English Emagazine | Page 11

february 2019 | bymonline.org
page 11
Zimri&Cozbi
A love story
Zimri was his name. His name meant, “my
praise”, “my music”. He was the son of a leader of
the tribe of Simeon. The Israelites were on their way
to the promised land Canaan. They had just
encamped at Shittim. This new place seemed
enchanting for Zimri. As he started to wander, his
eyes fell on Cozbi, the daughter of a tribal chief of
the Midianites.
Zimri forgot that he was an Israelite. He never
realised that a Hebrew cannot marry a non-Hebrew,
that he is a holy race and that God will not share His
Glory with others. Zimri was not the only one to
falter. Many more were involved. So maybe he
thought, 'Everybody does it. So why not I?' God's
anger was kindled. The plague had started to wreak
havoc. He was so enthralled by Cozbi that he failed
to see the plague that was sweeping across the camp
because of their sin. Lost in love, he walks in with
Cozbi, in the full sight of the mourning assembly.
Being children of prominent people, they might have
thought that nobody could question them. So they
decided to cross the line. Love knows no limits!!??
For Zimri and Cozbi, everything seemed perfect for
a fairy tale ending.
But, his brazenness was countered by
Phinehas' zeal. Perhaps, Phinehas was driven by a
different kind of love. He was passionate for God's
glory. His spear drove through both of them, just like
we notice in the symbol of contemporary love. The
wrath of God was quenched. The plague stopped!
(Num 25)
Dear friends, the devil doesn't put on a black
dress to look scary. He knows our weakness and uses
the right bait. At the forefront, all may seem
conducive and so promising just as it was for Zimri.
Good social status, charming, well qualified… Why,
even the society may support you! But, you can
never be yoked with an unbeliever (2 Cor 6:14-16).
To put it in plain terms, YOU CANNOT MARRY
AN UNBELIEVER. Today people call themselves
as Christians, but being a believer is altogether
different.
The Bible has been given to us to teach, rebuke
and correct us (2 Tim 3:16). Whenever we see the
love symbol, let us remember Zimri and Cozbi how
they were speared to death. Let us learn from them.
Let us not be carried away by lust and incite God's
wrath on us. Zimri yielded to the lust of his eyes and
the lust of his flesh. This made him lose what God
had kept in store for him.
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and
the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us,” (Heb
12:1). Let us stay focused in our track and win the
prize. The adage, “All that glitters is not gold”, holds
true. Let us not be distracted, run off-track and miss
that which God has kept in store for us. Let us run to
win.
- Jerisha Melbin, Missionary, Chennai