The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 281

and prejudicing their beam with recollections of carnal comforts and delicacies wllich seemed hopelessly lost. Instead of pointing out that the wildernel!II with all its hardships was a place of Divine manifestations, they could only see that it wu no place of seeds, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates. The mention Qf water1 coming in at the last, seems almost an after-thought, as much as to say, u :l!:ven. if we had ,;-ater, there would none the less be ground for great complaints." II. GoD's ANSWER TO THE COMPLAINT. 1. The people speak against Moses and Aaron, who thereupon make their usual resort to God. Beforetime when his glory appeared in response to their appeal it was the herald of destruction (eh. xiv. 10; xvi. 19, 42) ; but now there is no threatening of destruction. Even in the midst of their murmuring and ingratitude God reccgnius t/uir real need. Thus as we consider the work of God in Christ Jesus we find a similar reoognition. Men came to Jesus with all sorb! of selfish complaints; but while they found in him a pitying listener, there was no disposition to deal with them according to their com- plaints. God did not give to Israel at Kadesh, figs, vines, and pomegranates, hut he ga'l'e water speedily and abundantly. It is made a charge against the Divine providence and government, and sometimes a ground for denying the reality of such things, that men are so unequally supplied with temporal possessions. Bat o.ll this falls to the ground if only we notice how prompt, how effectual, God is in meeting real ne.cessities. It is he who is wjudge of these. There is no absolute necessity even for the bread that perisheth, but there is need, whether here or elsewhere, to be free from sin, to have that spiritual food, that bread and water of eternal life, which Jesus himself baa spoken of so largely and attractively in the Gospel of John. Thus while the Jews went on wickedly complaining against Christ, showing more and more their ignorance and selfishness, he, on the other hand, went on in the midst of all, revealing, expounding, setting forth in the clear light of his matchless teaching the supreme want of men and his own adequate supply for it. We must cease clamouring for the figs, vines, and pomegranates, and be more athirst for that water of which if one drink he shall never thirst again. God will not supply everything we think to be wants. But let a man come to himself and discern his real needs, and God, like the father to the prodigal son, will run to meet him with an ample supply. 2. God malces the supply from an unlikely source. Moses was to speak to the rock before their eyes the one nearest them at the time. There was no searching about among the hills if ha.ply some natural.reservoir might be found which a touch could open in all its fulness to the panting crowd. There wo.s water in the rock before them, requiring nothing more than the word of God through his servant Moses. We must consider what happened as if Moses had completely carried out his in- iitructions. Thus in many things connected with our salvation we are directed to unlikely places and unlikely methods. Who el[pects the King of the Jews to be born in Bethlehem? Why not in Jerusalem? Can any good thing come out of Naza.reth? Shall one look for the food of a multitude among five loaves and two small fishes? Shall one look for an apostle of the Gentiles in Paul, the fierce and persecuting Jew? God makes a messenger out of the child Sa.mnel, and a champion out of the stripling David. God delights in finding everything he needs where we can find little or nothing. We may be nearest help when to our natural judgment we may seem farthest from it. 3. There is thus a warning against all hasty judgmen,ts. We who are so utterly weak, so constantly in need of help, should be very slow to say, "Neither ia there any water to drink." Let us bear in mind how ignorant we are of the Scriptures and the power of God. God will not leave his own true children uneupplied with any needful thing. He will choose the right time, and way, and fonn. It is the besetting sin of far too many minds to form conclusions not only when there is lack of sufficient information, but when there is no need of present conclusion at all. "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart." Do not say in haste and ignorance that there is no strength to be got anywhere.-Y. Vers. 10-12.-The mof Moaesand .Aaron,. It was the sin of men who had been specially chosen, long occupied, often approved, and greatly honoured as servants of God. li they, being what they were, fell ao easily, how impo-rtant it is for fU OB. ll. 1-99,] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS.