The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 188

Rion of feeling, but not a repentance of heart (et 1 Sam. xv. SO). Whl\t wae im• possible yesterday is practicable to-day (ver. 40). But they go without the prayer of Moses (~b. x. 85) or the presen~e of God (ver. 44). T~e mountt:in pass is impreg• nable. It 1s too 11\te. The offer 1s lost to that generation. Their opportunity ho.a been sinned away. Defeat and death await them (Isa. xiii. 24, 26). These truths a.pplicable-1. To the offer of spirituo.1 conquests to the Church. The Church of Christ often on the borders of a land promised to our conquests. Unbelief suggests fears, oar enemies' strength, our own weakness, &c. Gradually faith in our own power may depart, because faith in God is lost. While others are useful we may be ciphers in the Church. Special excitement, or the pricks of conscience, may incite llB to make spasmodic efforts; but the faculty for Christian service may be well• nigh extirpated by disuse (Matt. n.v. 29). 2. To the offer of a present salvation to the sinner. Christian Calebs bring a good report of God's promised land of rest; but indecision or unbelief may forfeit it (Heh. iii. 19).-P. Ver. 28.-Fatal amwers to fai.tMe,ss prayers. Tbe faithless prayer was heard by God when the people mun:nured (ver. 2). Now the answer comes to their own destruction. Apply to--1. Reckless transgressors, who brave the consequences of their sins. lllustn.tion-Jews (Matt. nvi.i. 25), who, however, soon, dreaded the answer (Acts v. 28; cf. Prov. i. 31). 2. The discontented. E. g_. Rachel (Gen. m. 1; mv. 19); Hebrews lusting for flesh (eh. xi. 18-20), or desiring a king (1 Sam. viii. 6-22; Hosea xiii. 11; cf. Prov. xii. 18). 8. Profane swearers impre- cating damnation and receiving it (Ps. lix. 12; I.xiv. 8; Matt. xii. 86). 4. Distrust- ful servants of God, who, in haste, may proffer requests which, if granted, would leave a stain on their memories, if not actually fatal to their reputation. E. g. Mosee (eh. xi. 15); Elijah (1 Kings xi:x. 4); Jonah (iv. 8). What thanks are due to God that in his mercy he does not always answer ourrrayers, implied or expressed I And how mnch we need the teaching and the spirit o Christ, that we may pray thought- fully and trnatfally, and that he may not have to say to us, "Ye know not what ye o.sk" (Mark x. 85--40).-P. Vers. 1-3.-A repemanee to be repen,ted of. I. Ae WE OONSIDEB BOW IT WAB CAUSED. 1. By the fears of an all-devouring_ se"l,fi$hnus. Selfishness swallowed up every other consideration. Their vexation was caused not by the stirrings of a. guilty conscience, bnt by suffering and fleshly loss. All they wanted was the suffer- ing taken away. There was not the slightest sign of shame and penitence and return to God with fruits meet for repentance. Self-will was as strong in this night of weeping as it had been in the day when they proposed to send the spies (Deut. i. 22). 2. By a false reporl. How many are terrified by representations of religion as b.r from the truth as what the spies said of Canaan I Even where there is nothing malevolent or base in purpose, the difficulties of religion may be set forth ae if it were all the valley of the shadow of death from end to end, and heaven a mere perad- venture at the last. These Israelites were given over to strong delusion that they should believe a lie. Selfishness wo.s the source of all their weeping, and a false report brought it forth. Such views of religion, got upon such representations, will have to be changed, or there can be no real return to God, no real achievement of tbe rest of his people. II. As WE CONSIDER HOW IT WAS EXPRESSED. 1. In 'Uifljusf, complaims of their kaders. Moses and Aaron were neither of them faultless, far from it, but their faults were such as God marked, and not rebellious men. These faults the people bad no notion of, nor would it have mattered if they had. A Moses lees faithful to God, more indulgent to their whims and caprices, would have suited them better. They blamed Moses when they should ha.ve praised him, and it wae his highest glory that there was nothing about him they could praise. 2. In frenzied rejerencea ta themselve.8. Tbey epea.k as men with all judgment, self-control, and self-respect clean gone out of them. They were not in a state of mind to form a right estimate of a.nything whatever, "The mind must retain its full strength when engaged on euch a work ll.ll repentance." 8. Tluir rcu.l reproadtu against God. There was but one thing they ea.id of him that wa.s tnle, He had indeed brought them into this lo.nd. OHB, XIII, 1 XIV.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 169