The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 186

and transgre!!sion ? Into this name I will now run. In this name I take refuge.. Rem~mber t_hy woi:d _on w~icb thou .~ast caused. me to hope. Let thy name be now manifested in forgwmg th111 people. --There 1s no encouragement in prayer to be· compared with that which is got from the study of God's promises. "He both said -therefore we m11y boldly 11ay" (Heb. xiii. 5, 6). What God has promised to give . we may ask ~,-ithout wavering. Thirdly, Moses ple,a.dsformermercia (ver.19). Next to the promise of God, the remembrance of former instances of kindness received iu- answer to pniycr ministers encouragement to pray still, and not faint.-Sucb then was-· the pra~·er of Moses at Kadesh-barnea-the prayer which turned away the fatal sword of God s wrath from Israel. I am much inclined to think that instances of like success in prayer are not so rare as many suppose ; that, on the contrary, if an inspired his- tonan were to write the annals of our families, churches, communities, it would be found that not seldom public judgmente have been turned aside by the intervention of tLe Lord's hidden ones-hie Noahs and Daniele and Jobs. When all secret things ar& brought to light, these intercessors will not fail to obtain recognition ond reward.-B. Vere. 3, 4.-The sin and diame of apostaq. The sin of the Israelites at this tim& is almost incredible. Their rash words (ver. 3) prompt to reckless resolutions (ver. 4), which, if not actually carried out, are laid to their charge {Neh. il:. 17). Their crime includes the following sins :-1. Criminal f orgetfulnU$, as though the bondage of Egypt were better than warfare under" Jehovah Nissi" (Exod. xvii. 15). 2. Gross ingraxitu,d,e. They imply that God has ~ared them and cared for them thus. far in order to destroy them at last. 8. Shame W distrust, notwithstanding all the promises God has given, and the II signs" of is faithfulness he has shown (ver. 11). 4. Obstinate disobedience-a stubborn disregard of the word and will of their God. 5. Utter madness. In returning to Egypt they roust part company with Moses their leader and Aaron their priest. They mllllt abandon the ark and the· altar. TLey could not expect the maDlla to feed them or the cloud to guide them, And if they ever reached Egypt, what a reception would meet them there I All tl1ese sins a.re seen in a still more glaring form in the shameful crime of apostasy :from Christ. Such a ''drawing" back to perdition implies a previous coming near to Christ, and an enjoyment of blessings analogous to tho covenanted blessings of' ancient Israel (E:xod. xi.x. 8--6; :u.iv. 4-8). In apostasy we see-1. Criminal for- getfuluess of the bondage of evil habits, the burden of an uneasy conscience, th&" yearnings of unsatisfied desire, and all the other e,ils from which we looked to Christ· to deliver us. How can it be '' better to return'' to these? 2. Gross ingratitude to. God for all the blessings enjoyed during the Christian pilgrhmlge so far; as though such a God could fail or forsake us, and not " perfect that which concemeth us," a&- all his previous blessings are a pledge that he will do (Ps. c:xxxviii. 8 ; Rom. viii. 32). 3. Shameful distrust. "An evil heart of unbelief" is generally the primary cause of departing from God (Heb. iii.12). Distrust makes us weak against tempt- ations even of the grossest kind. We may lose courage amid foes or temptations which, but for shameful want of confidence in God, would have little power to alarm and divert us from the path of duty (cf. Ps. uvii. 1-3; cxviii. 6-12, and, in contrast, l Sam. x:r:vii. 1). 4. Obstinate disobedience. For we are" under law to Christ; " and " hill toill is our sanctification," our perseverance, our conflict and· victory till we reach the heavenly Canaan (1 These. iv. 3; 1 Tim. vi. 11-14; Heh. ill. 14; vi. 12). 5. Utter madness; for to '' draw back" is to forfeit the fellowship of Christ's Church, the tokens of his favour, bis promises, his consolations, and the- good-will of God. To succeed is perdition (Heb. x. 26-89).-P. Ven1. 8, 9.- With God on our side we are in tlie mnjority. Caleb and Joshua here describe- I. TRE CONDlTIONI! ON WHICH WE ll!AY EXPECT GOD TO :BE WITH us. 1. The un~ 1nerited good pleasure of God. "If the Lord delight in us." This is repeatedly mentioned as tlie origin of God's favour to the Israelites (Deut. iv. 37 ; vii. 7! 8, &c.). end to Christians (Eph. i. 3-6; }, Tim. i. 9, &c.). Only provided that this good pleasure is not forfeited by obstinate disobedience or distrust. Bo that the second ,condition is-2. Obedience. "Only rebel 11ot," &c. That generation sinned away OBB. xm., XIV,] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 167