The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 234

le.ngue.ge or conduct of his own. He we.a in e. humbler way like Jesus before his enemies. When Jesus spoke of his relation to the Fe.ther, his complete dependence on the Father's will, and obedience to it, and of himself e.s the sole revealer of the Father, these enemies sneered fmd three.tened; nnd no reply was effectual except the.t in which the Father glorified the Son by raising him from the dead. And even this we.a denied by those so ene.moured of lies that it was impossible for them to receive the truth. Moses here could but wait e.n e.nswer in some effectual and crush- ing we.y out of the great Invisible. Thus we have the impressive sight of a man who knows he is falsely accused and can wait serenely for the justifying word. If be had been guilty of self-seeking, as Korab wns, and with the stain of it on hia conscience, he could never have appealed in this way. It was not an empty call upon God, a mere rhetorical device. The challenge to Korah and his band is definite, and expresses a sure confidence in God as vindicator of his servants. "An honest cause fears not a trial, fears not a second trial, fears not a speedy trial." An innocent person needs do nothing in rashness, nor will he seek causes of evasion and delay. Let there be time for decent preparation, and on the morrow a decisive answer shall be given, IJ. THE QUESTION SHALL BE ADDRESSED TO GoD IN THE MOST EXPLICIT WAY. By a solemn act he shall be questioned, and by a solemn e.ct he shall answer. Let the people be effectually tested as to this holiness of which Korab makes so much. If even he and his band are holy before God as Aaron is, then let them attempt a part of Aaron's office (Exod. xxx. 1-9). If God nccepts the service from them as from Aaron, then all that Korab snys may be taken as true, and Aaron may retreat into obscurity and shame as a detected impostor. Moses was rendy for the one test that should be complete. It is always open to us, if we do not believe statements made on authority, to try them for ourselves. If we do not believe that arsenic is poisonous, it is quite open to UB to make the experiment on our own life. It may be a foolish experiment, but it is certainly a possible one. There was no fortified wall round the sanctuary. God did not put a gunrd of soldiers to keep defilers back. He himself was guard of his sanctuary. His own Divine energy resided in the holy things to avenge them against any polluted touch. Thus when men repudiate gospel truth and soy, "Who is Christ, or who Pnul, tlmt we should be tied to square our future and control our hopes by their requirements? " God takes in hand the clenring of his Son and servants from all reproaches. There is nothing to prevent a mnn trying to please God npart from him who is appointed the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and to whom nil power is given in heaven and on earth; but God in his own due time will make the trial manifest as ending in disastrous, ignominious failure. The more distinct and emphatic the challenge, the more distinct and emphatic shall the answer be. III. MOSES SUGGESTS CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS WHICH MAY LEAD TO A TIMELY RETREA'r, Moses doubtless had a prophet's premonitions of the terrible doom into which this proud band was advancing; therefore he mentions things which Korab bad neglected sufficiently to consider, and which would show him that God had been honouring him as well as Moses and Aaron. Korab belonged to a tribe specially separated to the service of God. If we complain of those who stand in a higher rank than ourselves, then those who are lower may complain of us in turn. All had been by God's appointment. The tribe of Levi had no more right to complain ngainst Moses and Aaron than any other tribe had to complain against Levi. The God who arranged one body and many members arranged the whole body of Israel, so that every pa~t should contribute in harmony to the whole, and receive good in return. The service of Korab was just ns needful in its way as that of Moses and Anron. Korab was clamouring for the priesthood: who then was to do Korah's work if he stepped into Aaron's shoes? Thus Moses made an appeal to whatever generous aml public spirit wns in him to think more seriously on the good of the whole. God eould not allow any one to imperil the integrity of Israel. They were in a dangerous position, this band of rebels, yet they knew it not. It was the Lord they were gathered against, and not Moses and Aaron, and just in proportion to the greatness of their ignorance was the greatness of their peril. They had talked indeed as if it wus tlrn Lord's cause they were thinking of, but their real object, which seemed easily in 216 THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. [CH. XVI. 1-40.