Nor is this typical c!1aracter arbitrai:y or un_real, for we may clearly see in them the same tendencies winch afterwards npened into utter blasphemy and Deicide. II. THAT TJIE OFFENCE OF MOSES IN THE EYES OF MIRIAM WAS HIS HAVING ALLIED HIMSELF WITH A GENTILE WIFE OF A DESPISED RACE. Even 80 the crime of our Lord, in the sight of a narrow and bigoted Judaism, was that he went about to present unto himself a Gentile Church, of the dregs of the nations, to be his spouse (cf. Cant. i. 4-6; Luke xv. 28; Acts xxii. 21, 22; Eph. v. 25-32). Ill. THAT MIRIAM AND AARON JUSTIFIED THEIR OPPOSITION TO MOSES BY DWELLING UPON THEIR OWN SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY. Even so the synagogue and priesthood of the Jews magnified themselves against the Lord's Christ and their own Messiah, on the g:round that they themselves were commissioned of God (cf. John vii. 48; viii. 33 j IX. 28, 29), IV. THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO BE OBLH'IOUS OF HIS TRUE GREATNESS, BECAUSE HE wAS THEIR BROTHER, AND THEIR YOUNGER BROTHER. Even so Christ was despised by the Jews because he was (as it were) one of themselves, and because they seemed to be familiar with his antecedents and training (cf. Matt. xiii. 55-57; Luke iv. 22. 28; John vi 42). v. THAT MOSES DISPLAYED A MEEKNESS WHICH SEEMED MORE THAN HUMAN, Even BO our Lord endured the contradiction of sinners with a meekness which was more than human (cf. Isa. xlii. 19; liii. 7; Matt. xi. 29; Heb. xii. 3; Jas. v. 6; 1 Pet. ii. 23). VI. THAT GOD INTERVENED TO ADVANCE HIS FAITHFUL SERVANT TO BE A.BOVE ALL PROPHETS, AND TO BE MUCH NEARER TO HIYSELF THAN MIRIAM AND AARON. Even BO did God vindicate his holy servant Jesll8 against all the blasphemy of the Jews, and give him a name which is above every name (cf. Acts ii. 22-241 32; iv. 10, 27, 30; Rom. i 4; Phil. ii. 9; Heb. iii. 1-3). VII. THAT GOD INTERFERED TO PUNISH MIRIAM WITH LEPROSY FOB DEB PRIDE AND RANCOUR. Even so the synagogue of the Jews became the synagogue of Satan, and they themselves are in exile, political and religious, until they shall cry for mercy to their Brother, the one Mediator (Rom. xi. 25; 1 Thess. ii. 151 16; Rev, ii. 9; iii. 9).
Consider again- L THAT THE SECRET CAUSE OF ALL THIS DISTURBANCE WAS PROBABLY MIRIAM'B JEALOUSY OF HER BBOTHEB's WIFE. It is likely she hoped to have exercised a grow- ing influence over him herself. Even so history and experience testify that personal jealousies and envies are at the root of very many of the disorders in churches and congregations ( cf. 2 Cor. xii. 20 ; 1 Pet. ii. 1 b.). II. THAT A COINCIDENT CAUSE WAS A SECRET DISSATISFACTION ON THE PART OF AARON AT THE INFERIORITY OF HIS OWN POSITION AND INFLUENCE AS COMPARED WITH HIS BBOTHEB's. Even so ambition and lust of power have betrayed many a highly- gifted and perhaps really religious soul into making claims, and taking up ~ position -derogatory to Christ, and inconsistent with his sole pre-eminence (cf. Col. 1i. 19). Ill. THAT THEY EXCUSED THEIB SEDITION UNDER THE PLEA (WHICH WAS TRUE IN ITSELF) TH.AT THEY TOO ENJOYED DIVINE FAVOURS AND PRIVILEGES. How often do men.speak and act as if the fact of being spiritual (Gal. vi. 1), or of being called to some ministry, authorised them to ignore all distinctions, refuse all control, and give the rein to their own enmities and evil feelings. IV. THAT MOSES TURNED A DEAF EAR TO THEIR INVECTIVES, BUT ALL THE MORE Goo TURNED A LISTENING EAR. MOSES WOULD NOT TAKE UP HIS OWN QUARREL, 1'HERE-- F0BE Goo TOOK IT UP FOB HIM, AND GREATLY MAGNIFIED HIM. Even BO they that will avenge themselves must be content with the results of their own efforts, and they that will fight their own battles must take their chance of victory; but they that will not avenge themselves, God will vindicate, and that gloriously. The meek shall inherit the earth, because at the present they are dispossessed of the earth (cf. Ps. luvi 9; Isa. xi. 4; Matt. v. 5; Rom. xii. 19; Heb. x. 30). V. 'fHAT THE PUNISHMENT OP' MIRIAM WAS THE MOST TERnIBLE OF DISEASES-A LIVING DEATII. A jealous spirit, stirring up dissensions, reckless of the souls ~?.t which Christ died, incurs awful guilt, and is in danger of hell-fire ( cf. Matt. XVllL 7-9; 1 Tim. vi. 4; James iv. 5). VL THAT AARON CRIED IIUMDLY TO THE BROTHER WUOM HE HAD SPOKEN A0AINBT, en. xn.J THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 135
AND THAT BllOTHER INTEROEDED FOR THEM, AND TllUS AARON'S FAITH SAVED HIMSELll' AND ms BISTER. Even so the Lord Jesus is ever ready to intercede for his enemies; muoh more for those whom he loves as brethren, when they cry to him, even if they have treated him ill (cf. Luke xxiii. 34; Rom. v. 8, 9; Heh. ii. 11, 12, and of the synagogue itself (Rom, xi. 26, 28; 2 Cor. iii. 16). VII. THAT MIRIAM'B FAULT, ALTHOUGH FORGIVEN, WAS NOT TO BE LIGHT! f FOR• GOTTEN BY HERSELF OR THE PEOPLE; SHE WAS TO BE ASHAMED FOR SEVEN DAYS. Even eo it is not according to the will of God, nor for the edification of the Chuzch, nor for the good of the sinner, that a sin which is also a scandal should be straightway smoothed over and forgotten, because it is acknowledged and forgiven. There is a natural impatience to be rid of the disagreeable consequences of sin in this life, which is purely selfish on the part of every one concerned, and is dishonouring to God. Shame is a holy discipline for those who have done wrong, and they should not be haetily removed from its sanctifying influences ( cf. Ezek. Xl[l[ix. 26; 2 Cor. ii. 6; vii. 9-11). VIII. THAT MIRIAM, PROPHETESS AB SHE WAS, AND SISTEB OJ!' THE LAWGIVER, llAD TO PASS THROUGH THE ORDINARY CEREMONIAL FOR THE CLEANSING OF LEPERS-A CEREMONIAL DESIGNED TO BET !!'ORTH THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST. Even BO there is one only way to restoration for all sinners, however highly placed or gifted, and that through the sprinkling of the precious blood (cf. Levit. xiv. 2; Acts iv. 12; Rom. iii. 22, 23). IX. THAT Goo WOULD NOT GIVE THE SIGNAL FOR DEPARTURE UNTIL MIRIAM WAS RESTORED. Even so God, who will have all men to be saved, waiteth long and delayeth the entry of the Church into her rest, lest any who will come in should be shut out (cf. Luke xviii. 7 b.; 2 Pet. iii. 9, 15; Rev. vii. 3). Consider also-THAT THE OPPOSITION OF HIS OWN ONLY LED TO THI: SUPREME AND SOLITARY GREATNESS OF MOSES BEING MADE FAR MORE CLEAR THAN EVER, AND BEING PLACED BEYOND CAVIL OR MISTAKE. Even BO the persecution of OUT Lord by the Jews only led to bis being declared the Son of God with power; and still more, the efforts of heretics to deny or to explain away his Divine glory, have only led to that glory 1-eing much more clearly defined, and much more devoutly believed than ever.