The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 318

the battle-field he could do nothing against Israel. If a man refuses to go in the right path, it is not, therefore, a matter of little consequence which of the wrong paths he chooses. One me.y take him swiftly in the dark to the precipice ; another, also doWTiward, may afford more time and occasions for retrieval. It we.s e. wrong, blind, useless course t-:> send for Balaam, but at all events it was not so immediatoly destructive, as to rush reckleesly into the field of battle age.inst Iarael.-Y. Vers. 5, 6.-Balal's 111asage ta Balaam. War being useless, what shall Balak do? In bis mind there were only two alternatives, either to fight or to send £or Bale.am. And yet there was a better course, had he thought of it, viz., to approach Israel peacefully. But prejudice, a fixed persuasion that Israel was bis enemy, dominated bis mind. We do very foolish things through allowing traditional conceptions to rule us. That Israel was the enemy of Moab was an assumption with not the smallest basis of experience. Many of the oppositions and difficulties of life arise from assmning that those who have the opportunity to injure are likely to use the oppor- tunity. He who will show himself friendly may find friends nnd allies where he least expects them. We mnst do our best in dubious positions to make sure that we have exhausted the possibilities of action. Balak then sends a. message to Balaam. Notice- I. A TESTIMONY TO THE POWER OF RELIGION. Balak cannot find sufficient resources in nature, therefore he seeks above nature.· When men 1 who in their selfishness an.d unspirituality are furthest from God, find themselves in extremity, it is then l>recisely that they are seen turning to a. power higher than their own (1 Sam. xxviii.J. Man he.s a clinging nature, and if he cannot lay hold of the truth as it is in Jesus, he must find some substitute. Balak did not know God as Moses knew him; be knew nothing of his spiritual perfections and holy purposes. But still he recognised the God of Israel as really exisrent, as a mi~hty potentate; he felt that Balaam had some power with him ; and thus even in bis ignorance be believes. It is a long, long way to pure a.theism, and surely it must be a drea.ry and difficult one. May not the questioI/- be fairly raised whether there are any consistent atheists, those whose practice agrees even approximately with their theory? There are men without God in the world, i. e. la.eking conscious and happy connection with the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; but even so they may bear testimony unthinkingly to .their need of him. The witnesses to the power of religion are not only many, but of all sorts, giving testimony often when they least suspect it. IL A TESTllfONY TO THE EMPTINESS OF lDOLATJlY. Balak had a god of his own, probably more than one, and doubtless he would have felt very uncomfortable in omitting the worship of them ; but he did not trust in bis gods. He may have sacrificed to them on this very occasion with great profusion and scrupulosity, but he did not trust them. Though they were near at band, he felt more hope from Ba.la.am far a.way; and yet if there was any good in bis gods, this we.s the very time to prove it and receive it. There is a Nemesis for all idolatry. The idols of Moab were put to shame before the God of Israel, and that by the very man who was bound to be their champion. It doea not need alwa.ya for a Dagon to fall in the presence of the ark. There are other ways of dishonouring idols than casting them to the moles and the bats. They may have shame written a.croBB their brows, eveg while they stand on the pedestal of honour. Thus we see also an e:cposure of form,a/,inn,, Balak's great need strips the mask off bis religion, and undemea.th we see, not living organs, but dead machinery. And bear in mind, formalism in serving the true God is just as certain to come to shame a.a formalism in serving an idol. The principle is the same, whatever deity be formally acknowledged, III. AFTER ALL THE RESORT TO BALAAM WAS A VERY PRECAIIIOUS ONE, even SUP• posing Balaam had a.II the power with which Ba.lak credited him. For Petbor was e. long way off, and the dreaded, victorious Israelites were close at hand. Balaam did not live in the next street. While you are sending from Land's End for the celeb~ted London physician, the patient's life is steadily ebbing away. That is no suffio1ent help in our supreme necesaities which he.a to be brought over land and sea. "Say not in thine hea.rt, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ aguin from CB, XXII. 2-40.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 303