The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 158

to one who believes and duly considers the singular honour of Moses as described in this text, especially if it is read in connection ,vith the similar testimony home elsewhere to Christ. Moses, and the Prophet like unto Moses, stand by themselves in the history of Divine revelation in this respect, that each served "in all God's house;" ea.eh was commissioned to introduce the Church into a new dispensation to deliver to the Church a system of doctrine and institutions. In harmony with this is the patent fact that, as at the bringing in of the gospel dispensation the stream of Holy Scripture ex:pands into the four gospels, even so at the bringing in of the ancient dispensation the stream of Holy Scripture originated in the Books of the Law.-B. Vers. 1-;6.-God the mndica"flr of ku oolumniatd servants. The serpent's trail was found m Eden, and "a devil" among the apostles. No wonder then at this narrative of strife in a godly family. We notice-- I. .AN UNJUST INSINUATION. Neither Moses' marriage nor his conduct to his relatives (ver. 3) had given fair cause of provocation, If his wife had done so, the charge .Aaron !llld Miriam brought against the man who chose her was utterly irrelevant (ver. 2). "The wife of Moses is mentioned, his superiority is shot at•' (Bp. Hall). No wonder if the most conscientious and cautious are calumniated since false charges were brought against Mo11es, Job, Jeremiah, and Jesus Christ. The assault was aggravated because-1. It came from his nearest kindred (Ps. Iv. 12-14; Jer. xii. 6). Miriam apparently began it, perhaps through a misunderstanding between the sisters-in-law, and drew Aaron into the plot (1 Tim. ii. 14). 2. Because it was in the form of an unjust insinuation that Moses claimed exclusive prophetic gifts (ver. 2; cf. Exod. xv. 20; Micah vi 4). ll A TBIOMPIIANT VINDICATION. Moses apparently had taken no notice of the charge; perhaps acting on Agricola's rule," omnia scire, 1Wn omnia euequf," (cf. Pa xxxviii 12-15; John viii. 50). But the Lord heard it and interposed. 1. The three are smnmoned before an impartial jud~, but with what different feelings. i The calumniated servant of l¾od is distingu1Shed by special honours (vers. 6-8). 3. The murmurers are rebuked, and a humiliating punishmant is inflicted on the chief offender. The punishment of Aaron, the accomplice, only less severe {through sympathy with hie sister) than that of Miriam (Job :xii. 16). 4. They are mdebted for deliverance to the intercession of the man they have wronged. Illustration, Jeroboam (1 Kings xiii 6; Job's friends, Job xlii 7-10). Thus God will vindicatf, all hie calnmniated servants (Pa. :x::x::x:v:ii. 5, 6). Protection (Ps. u:xi. 20); peace (Prov. xvi. 7); honour (Isa. Ix. 14; Rev. iii. 9); and final reward (Ps. xei. ·14-16; and Rom. viii. 31 ). Such are the privileges of the faithful but maligned servants of God.-P. Ver. 2.-The Lord lmeninrJ. '' And t1e Lord heard it." Compare with this the words, " .And the Lord hearkened and heard " (Ma.I. iii. 16). We are thus reminded that God listens not only to take note of our sinful words, but to record every loving, faithful word, spoken of him or for him. What a proof of the omnipotence of God I Wonderful that be should attend to every prayer addressed to him. Still more so that he should listen to every word spoken not to him but to others. But at the same moment he can hear the brooks murmuring over their rocky beds, the trees clapping their hands, the floods lifting up their voice, the birds singing in the branches, the young lions roaring for their pre1, and every sound of joy or cry _of pain. every hymn of praise or word of falsehood issuing from human lips (PJ. e:r.x.iux. B, 4, 6). Without speaking of direct prayel's we may seek illustrations of the truth that God listens to everything we say to one another, records it, p11ssea his judgmeut on it, and lays it up in store as one of the materials of his future verdict oD our lives. We may regard this truth- L .As AN ENOOUII.AGEMl!NT. As illustrations-I. Tum to the scene described iD Mai. iii. 16. A few godly persons a.re tcy1ng to keep alive the flame of p~ety !J1 a godless age (vers. 13-15). Apply to social means of grace for mutual eddioation. 2. See that Christian man on a lonely walk, courteously conversing with a stranger, and seeking to recommend Christ to him. The stranger may go away to pray or to 11eoff, but that is not all. God hears and records the words as one of the good  cu. xn.J THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 139