Jennifer 
Read the Daily Bible Verse – Numbers 31:15 To Strengthen Your Spiritual Journey.
The Context of Numbers 31:15 KJV
Background of the Book of Numbers
The Book of Numbers is the fourth book in the Old Testament. It continues the story of the Israelites after they left Egypt. The book describes their journey in the wilderness and their preparation to enter the Promised Land. It includes laws, censuses, and stories about their obedience and disobedience.
God had chosen Israel to be His holy people. He gave them commandments and expected them to live differently from the surrounding nations. When they sinned, God corrected them. When they obeyed, He blessed them.
Events Before Numbers 31
In Numbers 25, the Israelites committed a great sin. They began to worship the god Baal of Peor and committed sexual sin with the women of Moab and Midian. This led to a deadly plague that killed 24,000 Israelites. God commanded Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites for causing this spiritual downfall.
In Numbers 31, God instructs Moses to carry out this vengeance. Moses sends 12,000 men (1,000 from each tribe) to fight Midian. The Israelites win the battle, kill all the Midianite men, and capture the women, children, flocks, and goods.
Immediate Context of Numbers 31:15
After the battle, the soldiers return with captives and plunder. Among the captives are many Midianite women. Moses becomes angry when he sees them. He speaks to the officers who led the army. That’s where Numbers 31:15 comes in. Moses asks a piercing question about the women they spared.
Numbers 31:15 (KJV)
“And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?” — Numbers 31:15, King James Version (KJV)
This short question from Moses is powerful. It shows his concern, anger, and understanding of the situation. He wants to know why the women who had previously caused Israel to sin were allowed to live.
Numbers 31:15 Meaning
Moses’ Question
Moses asks, “Have ye saved all the women alive?” This is not just a casual question. It is filled with emotion and purpose. Moses is shocked and disappointed. He expected the soldiers to understand the seriousness of the mission.
The Midianite women had played a major role in leading Israel into sin in the past. They had seduced the men and caused them to worship false gods. Because of their actions, thousands died. Moses believed that allowing these women to live was a great mistake.
Spiritual Warfare, Not Just a Physical Battle
This was not an ordinary war. It was a divine judgment. The goal was not to gain land or treasure, but to remove the source of corruption. The Midianite women represented spiritual danger. By bringing them back, the soldiers were unknowingly allowing sin to re-enter the camp.
Moses knew that God’s people had to be separate from sin. Allowing the women to live could lead to more spiritual compromise. He wanted the people to remember what happened in Numbers 25. This was a matter of life and death, both physically and spiritually.
The Weight of Leadership
Moses’ reaction also shows the heavy responsibility of leadership. He had to correct the officers. He had to remind them of their spiritual duty. Moses had seen the consequences of disobedience. He could not allow it to happen again.
Numbers 31:15 Application in Life
1. Take Sin Seriously
Just as Moses was concerned about the spiritual danger of the Midianite women, we must also take sin seriously. Sometimes we may try to keep parts of our old life. We might hold on to bad habits, unhealthy relationships, or worldly influences. But like Moses, we must ask ourselves: Why have we kept these things alive?
Sin is dangerous. It can seem harmless at first, but it always leads to destruction. We must not entertain it. Instead, we must remove it completely from our lives.
2. Remember Past Lessons
Moses remembered the tragedy of Numbers 25. He did not want it to happen again. In our lives, we should also remember the times when sin hurt us or others. God allows us to learn from those moments so we don’t repeat them.
If we’ve been forgiven and restored, that’s a blessing. But we should not go back to the same temptations. Remembering the past helps us stay alert and faithful.
3. Spiritual Discernment is Important
The soldiers thought they had done well. They defeated the enemy and returned with captives. But they lacked spiritual discernment. They didn’t see the hidden danger. This can happen to us, too.
We may succeed in life—win battles, get jobs, earn money—but still allow spiritual danger into our homes or hearts. We need wisdom from God to see what truly matters. We must ask the Holy Spirit to show us areas that need correction.
4. Be Bold in Correction
Moses did not stay silent. He spoke up when he saw something wrong. As believers, we may sometimes need to correct others in love. It’s not always easy, but it is necessary.
If we see a friend going back to sin, or a loved one making a bad decision, we should speak truth gently. Correction is an act of love. It helps people return to God’s ways.
5. Be Separate From the World
The Israelites were called to be a holy nation. They were not to mix with the sinful practices of other nations. As Christians today, we are called to be holy, too. We live in the world, but we are not of the world.
We must guard our hearts, homes, and churches. We should not welcome influences that oppose God’s truth. Like Moses, we must ask ourselves, What have we allowed that should not be here?
6. Leadership Requires Courage
Moses had the courage to confront the army leaders. Leadership is not always about making people happy. It’s about doing what is right in God’s eyes.
If you are a parent, teacher, pastor, or leader, take your role seriously. Lead with faith. Correct in love. And always point people to God’s holiness.
7. God’s Judgment is Just
Some may feel that this story is harsh. Why destroy the women? It’s important to understand that this was God’s judgment, not human revenge. These women were not innocent. They had knowingly participated in leading Israel into deep sin.
God is patient and merciful, but He is also just. He does not ignore sin. This story reminds us that we all need grace and must turn away from evil. Thank God for the forgiveness we have in Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Numbers 31:15 is a powerful verse. It may be short, but it carries deep meaning. When Moses asked, “Have ye saved all the women alive?” he was confronting a serious spiritual issue. The Midianite women had once caused great harm to Israel. Allowing them to live was a dangerous mistake.
This verse reminds us to take sin seriously. We must not hold on to what once led us into trouble. We need to examine our lives and remove anything that can lead us away from God. Moses teaches us about spiritual discernment, leadership, and boldness. His question challenges us to look within and ask what we’ve allowed to live in our hearts that should be gone. It also reminds us to remember past lessons and stay faithful. God calls His people to be holy. He wants us to walk in purity and truth. Through Jesus, we can be cleansed from all sin. Let us not go back to old ways. Let us move forward in faith, trusting in God’s guidance.
May this verse encourage us to live with purpose, pursue holiness, and never forget the lessons of the past. Let us, like Moses, have eyes to see spiritual danger and hearts ready to obey God’s Word completely.
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