[Curiosity] Killed the Men of Bethshemesh

Another message that I think the Spirit is putting on my heart. And that message today is about how Curiosity is a double-edged sword. A blessing, but can also become a curse. It was curiosity that led many of us into the endless cycle of PMO in the first place. To give a few examples:

I was doing well for 9 years straight without P. Then one day, a three-letter acronym popped up on my phone, "***." Out of curiosity I looked it up—I even went a step further by turning safe search off. How I regret that!

In "Finally Free," Health Lambert starts off Chapter 1, with this,

Now that I got your attention, let us really ponder on this.

Curiosity is part of our human nature (Proverbs 27:20), and it's a good thing. In fact, we see it in angels (1 Peter 1:12). God uses curiosity for good. Sometimes God allows certain things to cross our path to get our attention or to get us to notice something or someone that can lead to what we called a "God moment" or "Divine appointment." The burning bush for example, to bring Moses to Himself.

Through curiosities, we explore this vast Universe that God created. We discover and invent. “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” (Proverbs 25:2). Thank God for curiosity! Without it, kids would not ask where babies come from and many other questions that give us opportunities to teach them the things of God: “...that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD...” (Joshua 4:6-7)

However, not all things are meant for us to know or see. God says that the secret things belong to Him (Deuteronomy 29:29). This is why Witchcraft and Occult activities are forbidden. And I find it interesting that out of all the well known English translations, only the KJV says “curious arts” in Acts 19:19 when referring to the Occult! Yes, God made us curious, but God also put a limit to it. There are lines we must not cross. Men have lost their lives for doing so throughout the Old Testament. Paul had this to say about the OT (for space, I will show only one):

Romans 15:4
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort [encouragement] of the Scriptures might have hope.

70 (or 50,070 depending on translation) men got struck down by God for being curious (1 Samuel 6:19). That's how serious it is. Now, the passage that should put a dose of healthy fear and reverence for God into our heart is Hebrews 13:4 (ESV), “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”

Marriage and its bed must be honored among ALL—Yes, that includes men and women who are single. Marriage is holy and sacred. Sex is for marriage and it's to be enjoyed within marriage. The body of a woman is for the eyes and enjoyment of her husband (and vice-versa) ALONE and no one else. It is not something for other men/women (whether married or single) to look into the bed of another couple. Curiosity ends here, for God will judge the curious ones (even the cameraman) that go beyond the closed door.

Let me end and conclude with this:

God uses curiosity for good, but there are limits. On the other hand, the Devil, knowing our curious nature, will always lure us into his trap to push us beyond the limits that God has set. We are curious indeed. And many things out there can ensnare us! The Devil will throw many things at us to get our attention, to get us curious. He is setting a trap (1 Peter 5:8) and we need the Holy Spirit to lead us. We must daily pray the Psalms of 139:23-24,

Psalms 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

God knows the deceitfulness of our heart, and only He alone can lead us into the way everlasting.

The next time you're tempted to look at P, remember that God killed the men of Bethshemesh just for looking into the Ark of the LORD. How much more with those curious about P that perverts the holy and sacredness of Sex which God created to be enjoyed by those He united together?

In Christ, He does not struck us, but let us not grieve His Holy Spirit. May God sanctifies our curiosity and guard our heart and mind from curious arts, and that includes P.

Note: I was going to touch on what we can do to protect the kids, but the post is already lengthy. So I might share that later.

 

I came across that just now, and it’s a perfect time to share a bit of what I left out above.

Curiosity is a good thing, but it needs to be controlled and redirected. It will not stop temptations completely, but it will greatly reduced it. Our ears, eyes and mind need to be guarded. Kids growing up have a lot of questions, and their minds are wide open to learn and explore. When we don’t spend time with them and teach them the ups and downs of [curiosity] and left to themselves, very often they end up falling into the devil’s trap.

For example, if we don’t teach them the danger and harmful effect of drugs, they will be tempted to try it out when their peer offer them a sample, and they will try it out of curiosity. There are things not meant to be opened, not meant to be seen, and not meant to tasted. Once the line is crossed, very often it can not be undone.

If kids have the joy and feel the love of their parents, and spend healthy and good time with their parents with sports, and activities that educate their curious minds, stories like the above could be prevented. Unfortunately, kids today have free access to mobile devices and computers and TV, and parents just let them be without spending much time with them.