The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 339

fickle1 irresolute, and therefore" unstable" (James i. 8). When he does not repent it may be a sign of obstinacy rather than of laudable firmness (Jer. viii. 6). 2. They lie. Children of Satan (John viii. 44), often trained from childhood in ways of false- hood (Ps. !viii. 3), they help to undermine the foundations of society (Isa. !ix. 13- 15), and to tempt truthful men to universal distrust (Ps. cxvi. 11). Such men are apt to think that God is like themselves changeable and unfaithful. They project an image of themselves, like idolaters, and call it God (Ps. cxv. 8), E. g. Balak ( vers. 13, 27), and Balaam himself at first (eh. x:xii. 8, 19). II. IT IS " IMPOSSIBLE FOR Goo TO LIE." Some of God's threats and promises are conditional, though in form they may seem absolute. E. g. Numb. xiv. 11, 12; Ezek. xx:xiii. 12-20. But others are fixed and absolute. We see this in-1 Threats. E. g. exclusion of Hebrews from Canaan (eh. xiv. 20-22); Saul's loss of th~ kingdom (1 Sam. xv, 22-29); exclusion of the impure from heaven (Heh. xi1. 14; Rev. xxi. 27). Hence learn the folly of those who hope that God may change his mind, while theirs is unchanged ; that God may repent instead of tbemsel ves. (Illustrate from Simon Magos, who desired to escape God's wrath while he gave no hint of abandoning his sins-Acts viii. 24.) 2. Promises. E. g. (1) To Abraham, hundreds of years before (Gen. xii. 1-3). Therefore Balaam says, vers. 19, 20. So we may trace the effects of the promise down to the latest of the Old Testament prophets (Mai. iii. 6) and the greatest of the Christian apostles (Rom. xi. 28, 29). (2) To believers in Christ. Because with God there is "no variableness," &c., there• fore we have "strong consolation," &c. (Heh. vi. 18, 19; James i. 17), and hope of the fulness of "eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised," &c. (Matt. x:xiv. 35; Titus i. 2), (3) To suppliants who claim God's promises. God can as soon cease to exist as refuse to "make good" any promise claimed with faith through Jesus Christ our Lord.-P. Ver. 39-ch. xxii.i.12.-Tlte.firstproph«y. I. THE NECESSARY PREPARATIONS. 1. Tit~ sacrifices. Balak and Balaam, however different their thoughts in other respects, were agreed as to the necessity of the sacrifices, if the desired curee were to be put in the· prophet's mouth. And so there was abundance of sacrificing. Balak first makes spon- taneous offerings, and then such as were specified by Balaam. They felt that God was not to be approached in an irregular way or with empty hands. As Balak thought of Balaam, so he thought of God, The prophet was to be bought with riches and honours, and God was to be bought with sacrifices of slain beasts. Here then is this common element in the practice of two men so different in other respects. It is in Arum and Moab alike. The tradition of Abel's accepted offering has come down far and wide, so that both men are found feeling that such sacrifices were in some way acceptable to God. But the faith and spirit of Abel could not be transmitted along with the knowledge of his outward act. These men did not understand tb111 these sacrifices were worthless in themselves. God is a Spirit, and cannot eat the flesh of bulls and drink the blood of goats, Shedding of blood was for the remission of sins, ~nd these men neither felt sin, confessed it, nor desired the removal of it. 2. The sight of the people to be cursed. The king took the prophet into the high places of Daal, that he might see the utmost part of the people. Very likely Balak himself had not seldom stood there, and gone down again each time more alarmed than ever. Balaam must now see these dreadful people, to satisfy himself that it was neither a trifling nor a needless work be had been called to do ; to see how close at hand they were, and to be impressed with the necessity of making the curse potent, speedy, and sure. Added to which, Balak probably believed that, for the curse- to operate, Balaam's eyes must rest on the people. Lane in bis 'Modern Egyptians" tells us bow dreaded is the evil eye. Here then Balaam looked on these people in- something of their wide extent. What an opportunity for better thoughts if the spirit that brings them had been in his heart I How he might havo said, "Have I been called then to blast this mighty host, who have now lain so long in such close neighbourhood to Balak, yet harmed him not? " 3. The prophet has his own special preparations. While Balak attends to the sacrifices, Balaam retires to his secret encbantmente (eh. x:xiv. 1) in some high, solitary place. God did choose thnt bis servants should go into such places to meet with him alone, but how differently  S26 THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. [CH. XXII. 41-XXIV.