20250529 [새벽묵상] 하나님이 명령하시는 전쟁과 우리의 순종 | The War Commanded by God and Our Obedience (민/Num 31:1~12)

31:1 여호와께서 모세에게 말씀하여 이르시되

31:2 이스라엘 자손의 원수를 미디안에게 갚으라 그 후에 네가 네 조상에게로 돌아가리라

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”

31:3 모세가 백성에게 말하여 이르되 너와 함께 있는 사람들 가운데서 전쟁에 나갈 사람들을 무장시키고 미디안을 치러 보내어 여호와의 원수를 갚되

31:4 이스라엘 모든 지파에게 각 지파에서 천 명씩을 전쟁에 보낼지니라 하매

31:5 각 지파에서 천 명씩 이스라엘 백만 명 중에서 만 이천 명을 택하여 무장을 시킨지라

31:6 모세가 각 지파에 천 명씩 싸움에 보내되 제사장 엘르아살의 아들 비느하스에게 성소의 기구와 신호 나팔을 들려서 그들과 함께 전쟁에 보내매

3 So Moses said to the people, “Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so that they may carry out the Lord’s vengeance on them. 4 Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.” 5 So twelve thousand men armed for battle, a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel. 6 Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.

31:7 그들이 여호와께서 모세에게 명령하신 대로 미디안을 쳐서 남자를 다 죽였고

31:8 그 죽인 자 외에 미디안의 다섯 왕을 죽였으니 미디안의 왕들은 에위와 레겜과 수르와 후르와 레바이며 또 브올의 아들 발람을 칼로 죽였더라

31:9 이스라엘 자손이 미디안의 부녀들과 그들의 아이들을 사로잡고 그들의 가축과 양 떼와 재물을 다 탈취하고

31:10 그들이 거처하는 성읍들과 촌락을 다 불사르고

31:11 탈취한 것, 노략한 것, 사람과 짐승을 다 빼앗으니라

31:12 그들이 사로잡은 자와 노략한 것과 탈취한 것을 가지고 여리고 맞은편 요단 강 가 모압 평지의 진영에 이르러 모세와 제사장 엘르아살과 이스라엘 자손의 회중에게로 나아오니라

7 They fought against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and killed every man. 8 Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. 9 The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder. 10 They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps. 11 They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals, 12 and brought the captives, spoils and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the Israelite assembly at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.

                사람은 누구에게나 약점이 있습니다. 어떤 사람은 돈에 약하고 어떤 사람은 명예에 약하며 어떤 사람은 술에 약하고 각 사람마다 약점이 있지요. 그런데 죄는 그런 우리의 취약한 부분을 알고 끊임없이 우리를 유혹에 빠지게 합니다. 신라의 김유신도 마찬가지였지요. 훌륭한 화랑으로 성장하던 김유신이 어느 날 술집에 들르게 되었고 여기서 ‘천관’이라는 기생을 만나게 됩니다. 이후로 여색에 빠진 김유신은 하루도 빠짐없이 그 기생집을 다니기 시작했습니다. 이 사실은 들은 김유신의 어머니가 마음이 무너졌죠. 그래서 김유신을 불러다가 타이릅니다. 김유신도 어머님의 말씀을 듣고 마음을 뉘우쳐 다시는 가지 않겠다고 다짐을 하지요. 하지만 무슨 일이 일어납니까? 잔치집에서 늦은 밤까지 술을 마시고 집으로 돌아가려고 말을 탔습니다. 술에 취하여 깜박 잠이 들고 말았는데 일어나보니 천관의 기생집이었지요. 자신이 매일 같이 가던 습관대로 말이 그를 기생집으로 데려간 것이었습니다. 그 뒷 이야기는 여러분들도 아시지요. 김유신은 그 자리에서 말의 목을 칼로 치고 자신을 맞으러 온 천관을 버려둔 채 발걸음을 집으로 향하게 됩니다. 여러분, 여러분의 발걸음을 이끄는 죄악은 무엇이 있습니까? 하나님께서 싸우라고 명령하시는데도 순종하지 못하고 끝까지 붙잡고 있는 여러분의 우상은 무엇입니까? 오늘 이스라엘 백성들에게 하나님께서 명령하십니다. 여호와의 원수를 갚으라. 하나님의 말씀에 순종한 이들은 하나님께서 명하시는 거룩한 전쟁에서 완전히 승리할 수 있었습니다. 오늘도 힘겨운 영적인 싸움을 하고 있는 우리에게 필요한 것이 이것입니다. 오늘은 하나님이 명령하시는 전쟁과 우리의 순종이라는 제목으로 말씀을 전하기 원합니다.

Every one of us has a weakness. Some are vulnerable to money, others to fame, still others to alcohol, and each person has their own specific Achilles' heel. And sin, knowing these vulnerable spots, constantly tempts us. It was no different for Kim Yu-sin of Silla, a prominent Hwarang (youth leader) who was growing into a fine young man. One day, Kim Yu-sin visited a tavern and there he met a gisaeng named Cheon-gwan. After that, consumed by his desire for her, Kim Yu-sin began visiting her house every single day. When Kim Yu-sin's mother heard this, her heart broke. So, she called Kim Yu-sin and admonished him. Kim Yu-sin listened to his mother's words, repented in his heart, and promised never to go back.

But what happened? One night, after a late night of drinking at a party, he mounted his horse to go home. He fell asleep, drowsy from the alcohol, and when he woke up, he found himself at Cheon-gwan's gisaeng house. His horse, out of habit, had taken him directly to the gisaeng house. You know the rest of the story. Kim Yu-sin immediately drew his sword and cut off his horse's head on the spot, then turned and headed home, leaving Cheon-gwan, who had come out to greet him, behind.

Friends, what sins are leading your footsteps astray today? What idols are you clinging to, unable to obey God's command to fight against them? Today, God commands the Israelites: "Avenge the Israelites on the Midianites." Those who obeyed God's word were able to achieve complete victory in the holy war commanded by God. This is what we need today, as we engage in our own difficult spiritual battles. Today, I want to share a message titled, "The War Commanded by God and Our Obedience."

                거룩한 전쟁의 특징 그 첫번째, 하나님께서 명령하시는 전쟁입니다. 오늘의 본문의 말씀은 이스라엘 백성이 미디안을 상대로 치른 전쟁의 시작을 기록하고 있습니다. 이 전쟁은 단순히 이스라엘의 복수심에서 비롯된 것이 아니라, 하나님의 분명한 명령에 따른 것이었습니다. 1절과 2절입니다. “여호와께서 모세에게 말씀하여 이르시되 이스라엘 자손의 원수를 미디안에게 갚으라 그 후에 네가 네 조상에게로 돌아가리라 ” 전쟁의 시작이 어떤 마찰이나 사건으로 촉발되지 않았습니다. 하나님의 명령으로 시작합니다. 그 명령이 무엇입니까? 원수를 갚아라 입니다. 2절에서 “이스라엘 자손의 원수를 미디안에게 갚으라.” 3절에 “여호와의 원수를 갚되.” 이를 통하여 우리가 알 수 있는 것은 이 전쟁이 이스라엘의 전쟁이 아니라 하나님의 거룩한 전쟁, 즉, 성전, 심판의 전쟁이라는 것을 알 수 있습니다. 그 예들로 본문에 드러난 여러가지 특징이 있습니다. 첫번째는 3절입니다. “너와 함께 있는 사람들 가운데서 전쟁에 나갈 사람들을 무장시키고” 하나님께서 전쟁에 나갈 사람들을 선택하게 하십니다. 5절을 보니 선택받은 사람의 숫자가 몇 명이라고 하십니까? 각 지파에서 천명씩 고작 12,000명입니다. 본문에는 백만명이라고 되어있지만 우리는 2차 인구조사에서 대략 이들의 장정 수가 60만명이 된다는 것을 알고 있지요. 60만 대군 중에 12,000명이면 50분의 1밖에 안되는 숫자입니다. 이는 마치 기드온과 300명의 용사를 생각나게 하지요. 300명 가지고 전쟁에서 이길 수 있습니까? 없지요. 12,000 명은 어떻습니까? 마찬가지입니다. 그러나 그렇게 하신 이유가 있지 않습니까? 사사기 7:2에 “여호와께서 기드온에게 이르시되 너를 따르는 백성이 너무 많은 즉 내가 그들의 손에 미디안 사람을 넘겨 주지 아니하리니 이는 이스라엘이 나를 거슬러 스스로 자랑하기를 내 손이 나를 구원하였다 할까 함이니라” 그 이유가 무엇입니까? 이것은 하나님의 전쟁인 것입니다. 6절에 “비느하스에게 성소의 기구와 신호 나팔을 들려서 그들과 함께 전쟁에 보내매” 마찬가지입니다. 성소의 기구, 즉 하나님의 법궤와 제사장 만이 불수 있는 나팔을 들려 보내는 이유. 이것은 하나님의 전쟁, 하나님의 심판인 것입니다.

1. The First Characteristic of Holy War: A War Commanded by God

Our text today records the beginning of the war fought by the Israelites against the Midianites. This war was not simply driven by Israel's desire for revenge, but was in direct obedience to God's clear command. Look at verses 1 and 2: "The Lord said to Moses, 'Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.'"

The war's inception was not triggered by some conflict or incident, but it began with God's command. And what was that command? "Avenge them." In verse 2, it says, "Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites," and in verse 3, "take vengeance on the Lord for the Midianites." Through this, we can understand that this was not merely Israel's war, but God's holy war—a sacred war of judgment. There are several characteristics revealed in the text that attest to this.

First, in verse 3: "Mobilize some of your men for war against the Midianites to carry out the Lord’s vengeance on them." God commanded them to select men to go to war. How many chosen men were there according to verse 5? Only twelve thousand, a thousand from each tribe. Although the Bible mentions "a million," we know from the second census that their fighting men numbered roughly 600,000. Twelve thousand out of 600,000 is only one-fiftieth of the total. This reminds us of Gideon and his 300 men. Can 300 men win a war? No. What about 12,000? Likewise. But wasn't there a reason for this? Judges 7:2 says, "The Lord said to Gideon, 'You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her.'" What was the reason? This was God’s war.

In verse 6: "Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling." This is likewise significant. The reason they sent Phinehas with articles from the sanctuary—that is, the Ark of the Covenant—and trumpets that only a priest could blow, was because this was God’s war, God’s judgment.

                둘째로 이러한 하나님의 전쟁은 우리의 순종이 절대적으로 요구됩니다. 7절을 보시겠습니다. “그들이 여호와께서 모세에게 명령하신 대로 미디안을 쳐서 남자를 다 죽였고” 이스라엘 백성들이 하나님께서 명령하신 대로 행하였습니다. 그 결과로 그들은 완전한 승리를 거두었습니다. 8절에서 “미디안의 다섯 왕을 죽였으니… 또 브올의 아들 발람을 칼로 죽였더라” 이들에게는 하나님의 명령이 너무 잔혹하다고 생각한 사람도 있었을 것입니다. 25장 바알 브올에서 모압 여자들, 미디안 여자들과 음행하고 그들의 신들에게 절하였던 것이 이들입니다. 그 마음에 아직도 미련이 남고 연약한 부분이 있었을지도 모릅니다. 그러나 그들은 기억해야 했습니다. 그들은 하나님께 범죄한 이들에 대한 하나님의 심판의 도구로서 사용되고 있다는 것을 말입니다. 미디안의 죄악이 하나님 앞에 가득 찼기 때문에 그들은 하나님의 심판을 피할 수 없었습니다. 제가 지난주 수요일에 설교하였던 아모리 사람들을 진멸하였던 것도 그들의 죄악이 하나님 앞에 가득 찼기 때문입니다. 창세기 15:16에 하나님께서 아브라함에게 말씀하시는 부분입니다. “네 자손은 사대 만에 이 땅으로 돌아오리니 이는 아모리 족속의 죄악이 아직 가득 차지 아니함이니라” 아브라함의 자손들이 애굽에 거하다가 사대 만에 가나안 땅으로 돌아올 것인데 그 이유가 무엇이라고요? 아모리 족속의 죄악이 그때에는 가득 차게 될테이니 그들을 심판할 것이다. 하나님께서 말씀하시는 것이에요. 그리고 그 심판자가 누구라고 말씀하십니까? 바로 아브라함의 자손들이라고 말씀하시는 것입니다. 이스라엘이 하나님께 범죄한 이들에게 하나님의 공의를 집행하는 심판으로서 사용됩니다. 그렇다면 그 이스라엘에게 요구되는 것이 무엇입니까? 절대적인 순종입니다. 그렇지 않으면 이스라엘이야말로 하나님의 심판 가운데 있게 될 것입니다. 우리가 하나님께 온전히 순종할 때에 하나님의 전쟁은 하나님께서 이루실 것입니다. 300명을 가지고도 12,000명을 가지고도 하나님께서는 그 전쟁을 완전한 승리로 이끄십니다.

2. The Second Characteristic of Holy War: Our Absolute Obedience

Secondly, this kind of war from God absolutely demands our obedience. Let's look at verse 7: "They fought against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and killed every man." The Israelites acted exactly as the Lord commanded. As a result, they achieved complete victory. Verse 8 says, "Among those killed were the five kings of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword."

There might have been some among them who thought God’s command was too cruel. These were the very people who had committed sexual immorality with Moabite and Midianite women and bowed down to their gods in the Baal-Peor incident (Numbers 25). Perhaps they still held some lingering affection or had weak points. However, they had to remember that they were being used as instruments of God's judgment against those who had sinned against Him. Because the iniquity of Midian was full before God, they could not escape God's judgment.

As I preached last Wednesday, the extermination of the Amorites also occurred because their wickedness was full before God. In Genesis 15:16, God says to Abraham: "In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure." What was the reason Abraham's descendants would return to this land after four generations in Egypt? God was saying that the iniquity of the Amorites would be full by then, and He would judge them. And who did God say would be the executioners of that judgment? Abraham's descendants themselves. Israel was used as an instrument to execute God's justice on those who had sinned against God.

What, then, was required of Israel? Absolute obedience. Otherwise, Israel itself would have come under God's judgment. When we obey God completely, God Himself will accomplish His war. With 300 men, or with 12,000, God leads His war to complete victory.

                말씀을 맺습니다. 오늘의 말씀은 하나님의 전쟁을 다루고 있습니다. 그 전쟁은 죄악에 대한 하나님의 공의로운 심판이었습니다. 그 심판자로 하나님께서는 이스라엘 백성을 택하셨습니다. 택함받은 자에게 요구되는 것은 온전한 순종입니다. 그들이 온전히 순종하였을 때에 하나님께서는 그들에게 완전한 승리를 허락하셨습니다. 우리도 마찬가지입니다. 우리 안에는 멈추지 않는 영적 전쟁이 있습니다. 우리가 숨기려하는, 애써 외면하려하는 죄악들이 끊임없이 우리를 넘어지게 합니다. 그러나 하나님께서는 우리에게 하나님의 전쟁을 하라고 명령하십니다. 그때에 우리에게 요구되는 것은 온전한 순종입니다. 지금 하나님께서는 여러분에게 무엇을 명령하십니까? 온전한 순종으로 완전한 승리를 취하는 여러분 되시기를 주님의 이름으로 축원합니다.

Conclusion

To conclude, today's passage deals with God's war. This war was God's righteous judgment against wickedness. For this judgment, God chose the people of Israel. What was required of those chosen? Complete obedience. When they obeyed completely, God granted them complete victory.

It is the same for us. There is an unceasing spiritual battle within us. The sins we try to hide, the ones we try to ignore, constantly cause us to stumble. But God commands us to fight God's war. And in that moment, what is required of us is complete obedience.

What is God commanding you to do right now? May you be among those who achieve complete victory through complete obedience, in the name of the Lord. Amen.