The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 105

NUllBIUili, G 82 THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. [OH. tx. 15-28, Ver. 23.-0of£s ceaseless p r ~ a moti™ to prompt obedience. God's presence with Israel waa perpetual (Exod. iii. 12; xiii. 17-18). The eign of it i:n the cloud was given as soon,. and was _continued as long, as it w·as needed (Exod, xiii; 21, 22; xl. 38). God's active, proV1dential presence was-I. A sounc1t OB' SAJrJ!lTY; II. A GROUND OF FAITH; and therefore, III. A 'MOTIVE TO OBRDlltNOE. I. The cloud (1) led them the safe!t way (Exod. xiii. 17). (2) Eneured protection from foes when near at hand (Exod. xiv. 191 20, 24). (3) Ga.ve light on the camp in moonless nights (Ne~. ix. 1_9). (4) "\Yas .a.pledge of safety to sinners, ae i~ rested on the mercy-seat (Levit. xvi. 2). This v1s1ble cloud a symbol of protection by an invisible God (Isa. iv. 5). Illustrations, bird and young (Ruth ii. 12; Ps. xvii. 8; xci. 4). Fatkei· carrying his child by day (Deut. i. 31), and watching by him at night (Ps. c;;:xi). There is safety for sinners not away from God but in God Ps. cxliii. 2 9). II. God showed himself in the cloud for the very purpose of He t~ok the responsibility out of the hands of the people and Moses that t have the privilege of trusting (Exod. xxxiii.. 9-17; Deut. i. 33). Such a gui ing presence we may enjoy by the· aid of God's tlJ1'itt,en coun,sel,s, providen;tial aces, a-nxJ, inward monitwru; (Ps. xxv. 4, 5, 9, 14). See how these three are combined in the narrative' (Acts viii. 26-35). . • III. Ver. 23 is very emphatic, They obeyed even if at times the journeywns very arduous (Numb. xxi. 4), or the halt very tedious (ver. 22), or the start was sudden, as when a. midnight alarm of the trumpets wa.a a sign that the cloud had begun to move (ver. 21). Hence we learn (1) not to take for granted that any place is our rest (Job =ix. 18; Micah ii. 10). (2) To be willing to go to the wilderness with God, rather than to stay in the choicest paradise without God. (3) To be willing to endure, at God's bidding, protracted toil or enforced inactivity. (4) To be ready at any time to strike our tent and go home. Thus waiting on God and waiting for God, we are safely led, and have the rest of trustful obedience (Ps. v, 11, 12; •:dviii. 14; lx.xxiv. 11, 12).-P. Vers. 15-23.-.The cloud upo11,_ tlie tabernacle. There is a fuller account of the rearing of the tabernacle and the descent of the cloud upon it in Exod. xl, Note- I. THE CONNECTION Oll' THIS CLOUD WITB PAST EXP.ERIENOEB. It is spoken of as" the cloud "-some.t,h_i.llg, therefore, already known. It was known as associated with the glorious doings of J ehovab in the midst· of the people. A remembrancer of the perilous march, with the Red Sea before and the Egyptians behind, when he who made his presence known by the pillar of cloud so gloriously delivered his people and overwhelmed their enemies (Exod. xiv. 19). A remembrancer of the provided manna., when, after God had promised it, the people looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud (Exod. ivi. 10). A remem- brancer, again, of the solemn waiting upon Jebova.h's will at Sinai (Exod. xix. 9; :u:iv, 15-18). Compare with these experiences under the law the great and abiding experience under the gospel. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and ,ve beheld hie glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of gra.ce and truth" (John i. 14). He who afterwards tabernacled in the ffesh, made his glory to rest Oil the tabernacle in the wilderness, When Jesus came, God showed his favour resting not only on the Israelites, but on all mankind, II. THE CONNECTION 01!' THIii (,'LOUD WITH Olll!:YED OOMHANDMENT!I. The cloud that had hitherto rested on Sinai now came down on the tabernacle, This showed Jehovab's approval of the tabernacle. All had been fashioned according to the pattern in the mount. The tabernacle and the holy place, themselves made of perish- able materials, were nevertheless typically perfect. They were not inspired by the in\·ention of wen, but by the revelation of God. God will give indubitable signs of approval when we are doing things according to his will. This tabernacle and ite contents were the types of the truths, duties, and privileges of the gospel1 and only as we receive the truths, practise the duties, and employ the privileges, shall we have the glory of God resting upon us. Until that time we come short of the glory of God. We may ti.lk as we like about the glorious achievements of human thought, making our little clouds and fires about the earth, and calling them immortal and  OB. IX. 15-23.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 83