How little it was in the power of Balaam to effect, we see in every renewed attempt that he made. So far from being able to inflict a curse on Israel, he was not able even to denounce one : for God overruled and constrained him to bless the people whom he desired to curse.
Having offered seven bullocks and seven rams on as many altars, he came to Balak, who was anxiously expecting the accomplishment of his wishes. But, behold, the man on whose power he relied to curse Israel, was constrained explicitly to declare,
I. Their security —
Balaam acknowledges that it was not in his power to curse them : and declares that, instead of being van- quished by Balak, they should prevail against every enemy, and be a peculiar people to the end of time.
This has ever since been verified in relation to
those who are Israelites after the flesh —
[That nation did prevail over their enemies ; did get pos- session of Canaan ; did maintain it against all their enemies, till, for their iniquities, God sent them into captivity in Babylon. Yet even there did they retain their peculiarities : yea, even at this day, though dispersed through every country under heaven, they are as much a peculiar people as ever. Other nations, when vanquished and dispersed, have become incorporated with their victors, and been assimilated to the people amongst whom they have dwelt : but the Jews in every country are still a distinct people : and are living witnesses of the truth of this prophecy.]
It is no less verified in relation to the spiritual Israel —
[Every blessing promised to Abraham and his natural seed was, in a spiritual sense, made also to his spiritual seed. The Gospel itself, with all the blessings of salvation, was con- tained in that promise, " In thy seed shall all nations be blessed3." It is evident, moreover, that Balaam himself was instructed of God to prophesy of persons under the gospel dis- pensation, even of those who should be the subjects of the Lord Jesus Christ b. Now they are indeed a peculiar people0:" they " dwell alone :" " though in the world, they are not of the world, even as Christ himself was not of the world*1:" they
a Gal. iii. 8. b Numb. xxiv. 17 — 19.
c Exod. xix. 5, 6. 1 Pet. ii. 9. d John xvii. 14, 16.
172.1 Balaam's first attempt to curse Israel. 143
" are not conformed to it ;" " they come out from it and are separate;" they can "have no more communion with it, than light can have with darkness, or Christ with Belial." They dwell in the midst of enemies, amongst whom they are " men wondered at." Wherever they are, they are, and ever have been, in a greater or less degree, objects of hatred and per- secution. Every possible method has been used to extirpate them; but no enemy has ever been able to prevail against them. They are still, and ever shall be, monuments of God's power, and objects of his love.]
IT. Their increase —
The Israelites, as a nation, became very nume- rous—
[At the time that Balaam saw them, they probably amounted to two millions : but after their settlement in Ca- naan they multiplied exceedingly, so as to fulfil the promise made to Abraham e, and to justify the declaration in the text.]
But the true Israel shall indeed be "as the dust
of the earth" —
[In the first ages of Christianity they were spread over the whole Roman empire : and though we acknowledge that hitherto they have not been numerous, when compared with their enemies, yet we are assured, that they shall in due time cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, and for the space of a thousand years fill the whole earth. And, if we consider how they will multiply when wars shall cease, when the diseases arising from men's folly and wickedness shall be removed, and " the man dying at an hundred years old shall be considered but a child" brought to an untimely endf ; we may well ima- gine, that their numbers shall far exceed that of all who have perished in their sins. We are sure at all events, that, in the last day, they shall be " a multitude, which no man can num- ber, out of every nation, and kindred, and people, and tongue;" and that they shall join together in everlasting hallelujahs, " saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lambg!" O blessed period! May "God hasten it, in His time ! "]