The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 344

resources. He rather takes the blame to himself than to Balaam. If there be wrath in hie heart with the speaker, who, instead of cursing Israel, has blessed it altogether, he manages to conceal the wrath. He cannot afford to quarrel with Balaam the only known resource he has. He suggests, therefore, as the great cause of failure that the place of cursing has been badly chosen. Remove the cause and the el:ect will disafpear. Let the prophet come away from the top of the rocks to where his mind wil n?t be _filled with the presence of this bewildering multitude; and Balaam, w~atever his pnvate thoughts, conse~ts to the experiment. It is the way of the blind, deluded world; all reason~ for failure are accepted and acted on eave the right one. Bala~ cannot yet see, wlll not see for a while, perhaps will never really see, that there 1s no place on earth where such requests can be granted. He is showing himself now, as Balaam had done before, unsatisfied with the first intimation. Balaam had been told plainly at the very first that Israel was ble88ed, yet here he is dabbling in superstitions, in enchantment.~ and divinations, with no clear perception of the nature and character of God. Thus, all the narrative through, we see what egre- gious and scarcely credible blunders men make when they are left to themselves to make discoveries of God. \Vhat a proof that revelation in all the large extent of its Scriptural fulness is absolutely indispensable I God must not only give us the truth concerning himself, and the proper relation of men to him, but must also open our hearts and our eyes, and give us light whereby wo may see the truth already given. How constantly we should remember the inevitable ignorance of those.to whom gospel truth, light, and perceptive power l1ave not yet _penetrated I Take pity on them and help them-such darkened minds-as you think of Balak stumbling from one blunder to another, from one discredited resource to another, from one disappointment to another, only to find at last that all hi.a schemes are vanity. And now we advance w C()'Jl,l)Wer the second propltec11. It is not only spoken in Balak's hearing, bot is a direct appeal to himse1f. We are to imagine Balak standing with strained and eager look, already foll of excitement and expectation, before ever a word is spoken. But this is not enough; he must be solemnly exhorted to attention. " Things are about to be said directly concerning you, and it may be that when you have heard them, and allowed them to have full effect on your mind, you will cease from these foolish attacks on the established purpose and counsel of Jehovah." That this call npon Balak for attention was not a superfluous one is shown by the fact, that after bearing the prophecy he nevertheless made a third attempt, modified indeed, but still auch as to show that he had not taken in the prophecy to anything like its full extent. We know how the Scriptures al?ound in expressions of which "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear," and "Verily, verily, I say unto you," are representative. Such expressions do not make truth any truer, but they do throw on ne a great responaibility, and involve us in unquestionable blame for neglect of the things which belong to our salvation. l. THE l'BOl'HECY BEGINS BY CORRECTING BALAK'S l!'ATAL MISAPPREHENSIONS CON• CEBNING Gon. Balak he.ving failed the first time be tried Balaam, succeeded the second; having failed the first time he tries Jehovah, it is natural for him to think he may sncceed the second. Hitherto he has known only the idols of Moab, and these of course only in such aspects as the prieMts presented them. As the t>rlests were, so were the gods; and Balak, having experienced Balaam's final compliance, might excllBably argue from Balaam to that Being whom he took to be Bale.e.m's God .. And :now there falls out of e. holier sphere some unexpected and much-needed knowledge for poor Balak, whose chief experience had been of equivocating, vacillating, unstable men. " God is not what you think hint to be; he is true and steadfast, neither changing his purposes nor failing in them." Notice the way in which this all- important statement is put. God puts himself in contrast with his fallen, unfaithful, and disgre.ced creature, man. "God is not a man ; " and, as if to emphasise this matter, he speaks the word of truth concerning his own truth through lying lips. " Men change their minds, and therefore break their words; they lie because they repent." What a hint then for us all to change from deceitful hearts to sincere ones, 'from lying lips to truthful ones, from vain purposes that must some day be relin- quiahea, engendered as they are in our own sellishness l).lld folly, to such purposes aa OB. XXII, 41-XXIV.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 331