[3.] After this God appears among them again, and they are led into Canaan with a miracle ; an argument of a great favour on God's part, and an awe of those things that befell them at Shittim ; and now they are very tender of provoking God again : Josh. xxii. 17, ' Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day ? ' They had tasted of the bitter waters.
[4,] God's covenant is renewed at Gilgal, to show that he would still be their God, and bless them as formerly, Josh. v. 2, 3.
Secondly, The observations that may be hence deduced. For cer- tainly it was a special act of God's mere love : Deut. xxiii. 4, 5, ' They hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor to curse thee ; nevertheless the Lord thy God would not hearken to Balaam, but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee.' So Josh. xxiv. 9, 10, 'And Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose, and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you : but I would not hearken to Balaam ; therefore he blessed you still : so I delivered you out of his hand.'
1. That wicked men cannot hurt the godly but when God permit- teth : Gen. xxxi. 7, ' Your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God suffered him not to hurt me.' So Laban saith, ver. 29, 'It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt ; but the God of your fathers spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.' God hath the power of blessing and cursing in his own hand, however men are disposed. The king sought by all means possible and devisable to bring God's curse upon them, but God changed it into a glorious blessing. Men's hearts are not in their own hands, and if they find their hearts, success is not at their command. God disappointed the plots and practice of Balak and Balaam. Balaam returned as he came, and could not curse Israel, but denounced woes against their enemies.
2. That God can protect us against the fraud as well as the violence of enemies. The devil assaults us with wiles and darts, Eph. vi. 11, 16 ; so do his instruments assault us ; they vex us with their wiles, and pursue us with their open hostility and persecution ; but we may trust God with our safety. A remedy may possibly be prepared against violence, when no man by his own foresight can find out all the snares laid for him. But this is the comfort of God's people, that nothing is
SERMON UPON MICAH VI. 5. 45
hidden from God. He is wise, and lie is watchful ; wise to foresee the draught of his own providence: Ps. xxxvii. 12, 13, ' The wicked plot- teth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth : the Lord shall laugh at him, for he seeth that the day is coming.' And as God is wise, so he is watchful : Ps. cxxi. 4, ' He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.' God is privy to their most secret designs.
3. That God's providence is especially interested when the design is to corrupt religion. Balaam was right in pronouncing blessings on the chikh'en of Israel whilst they kept true to their religion ; but his advice was to feast and entertain Israel kindly, to induce them to for- sake their God, and then the Lord interposed, and defeated this malicious purpose. Many times God doth that for the sake of religion which a people that profess religion deserve not : Isa. iv. 5, ' And the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of Mount Sion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flam- ing fii-e by night ; for upon all the glory shall be a defence.' Particular persons fell by those wars, but religion was secured and kept safe.
4. That God can make our very enemies befriend us. Thus he over- ruled the heart of Balaam to bless Israel and curse their enemies : Prov. xvi. 7, ' When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.' It is a proverb, not a promise, and must be interpreted that God can if he will, and oftentimes doth it for the most part ; for proverbs are taken from what is usual and common. Thus he made the keeper of the prison kind to Joseph : Gen. xxxix. 21, 'The Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.' And Laban was smoothed by the way when he pursued after Jacob : Gen. xxxi. 29, ' The God of your fathers spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.* And Esau was kind to him when Jacob feared him : Gen, xxxiii. 4, * He ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell upon his neck, and kissed him.' But above all, take the instance of the text. Balaam came contrary to God's warning, having an eager desire after the reward; his hostile mind continued still, yet he blesseth instead of cursing, by the overruling power of God. God hath several ways to accomplish this ; either by bridling their rage, or putting convictions on their consciences, or changing their hearts, or determining their interests. It cannot be imagined but that the Creator is able to rule his creature one way or other ; therefore we should cease from man, who is not sovereign master of his own affections. When all is thoroughly considered, God will be found to be the most desirable friend and dreadful adversary,