2. From the indignation which he manifested on account of it —
[" When he heard these unbelieving doubts, he was wroth: and so a fire was kindled in Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel," and " he smote them with a very great and fatal plague0." Now, it is true, we do not see the same dis- pleasure exercised on us ; but we can have no doubt but that our unbelief is as offensive to God as theirs was : indeed, it involves us in deeper guilt ; because his mercies to us, in our redemption by Christ, infinitely exceed all which the Jews experienced in the wilderness. And, if we still harbour it in our hearts, it will bring down a proportionably heavier judg- ment than what theirs brought on them. They were excluded from the earthly Canaan for their unbelief: but we shall be excluded from heaven itself, and from the everlasting enjoy- ment of our Godd."]
Seeing, then, that unbelief is so offensive to him, let us inquire after,
II. The disposition of mind which God approves —
This is clearly intimated in our text : His anger was kindled against Israel, " because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation." Of all the images that human wisdom can suggest, no one can be devised so complete as that before us, for the purpose of illustrating a life of faith —
[The people of Israel were brought out of Egypt ; but they knew not one step of the way that they were to take : they were unprovided with any sustenance : they were inca- pable of protecting themselves against any enemy : they had to pass through a country infested with wild beasts, and full of obstacles apparently insurmountable : consequently, they had to trust to God for every thing from day to day ; and, in dependence upon him, to expect a successful termination of their labours in a peaceful enjoyment of the Promised Land. A new-born infant was not more incapable of providing for itself than they: yet were they to prosecute their journey without fear, and without any apprehension respecting its final issue. Now this is precisely the frame of mind which God expects from us. We must feel our dependence on him as much as they did. We must look to him in every difficulty; and expect from him a supply of every want ; and never move, but as guided and directed by him. If trials arise, they must drive us all to him, and lead us to expect from him the more
c Numb. xi. 33. d Heb. hi. 19. and iv. 1, 11.