The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 362

that tl1e instigation c6.me from him. Even so tl1ere is the same double origination of all grave failings away from God and grace. A man is drawn away of his own lust (James i. 14), and enticed by the lust of the flesh nnd of the eyes (l John ii. 16); but benenth and behind all these temptations is the craft of nn evil will counter• 'l\•orking the grace and purpose of God (Ephes. vi. 11, 16; 1 Pet. v. 8). And note tha~ Balaam could not _h~ them b7 his curses or magical practices, but only by tnkmg advantnge of their evil concupiscence. So has our adversary no power against us, save ~hrough ou~ own si~s. 2. T1!,at the si.n of Israel beqan wiOi. idlenen, and t_lu reaq,wn from toil and 'llictory, uihwh encouraged them t,o give Oi,e rein to wander• •mg dwres. Even so the most dangerous moments, n1ornlly speaking in a Christian's life nre those intervals of comparative inactivity and apparent safety when dangers seem to be surmounted, foes overcome, and toils left behind. 3. That Oi,e da:/lfll'JI" of Israel against which they had been so strongly warned 1WW beset them, viz., tM ilanger of too friendly intercourse witli people whose religion and morality were alt,ogetlter inferior to that of Israel. Even so the great and constant danger of Christian people-especially of such as mix much with others-lies in intercourse 'ldth a world which does not acknowledge the laws of God, and in the almost ine·f"itable lowering of the moral and religious tone which follows. 4. That thefir8C fatal ltep was ind:ulgence in carnal pleasures-an indulgence such as was now for the first time thrown in their way. And this is still the frequent source of apostasy ; a snare into which the most unlikely persons constantly fall when it ie suddenly presented to them. How many of the greatest, intellectually, and most promising, spiritually, have fallen tlirough lUBt I how many deem themselves absolutely above it simply because the temptation has never yet come in their way I 5. That fellow- ship in sin led dire1:tly to fellowship in -idolatry: the two thiu,s being mutually intermixed in the abominations of tliose days. Even so it is nnpossible to take part in the sinful indulgences of the flesh and of the world without denying God and committi.Dg treason against him. Immorality is not simply evil in the eight of God, it is an outrage upon him, and a direct renunciation of our allegiance to him. The first Christians rightly regarded Venue and Bacchus as devils. Fleshly sin involves a quasi-sacra.mental union with the enemy of God (1 Cor. vi. 13-20: x. 21, 22; and cf. Ps. lxxiii. 27; Acts xv. 20; 1 Tim. v. 11). 6. That t!,.e wrath of God burnt especially against the heads of the people, because they had permitted tliese ini,quities to go on, and had _perhaps encouraged Oi,em. Even so their sin is greatest and their punishment will be sorest wbo fail to use their position and autliority to discourage vice; much more if they countenance it by their example. 7. That Oi,e sentence of death was pronounced upon all who were joined to BaaJ-Peor. It is not the will of God that sin as such should now be punished by the magistrate, but none the less is the sentence of eternal death gone forth against all who through sinful indulgence have made tliemselves over to the prince of this world (Hom. i. 18, 32; vi. 23; Ephes. v. 5; Rev. xix. 20; D:i, 8). 8. That the judges of Israel Wl'fl"l!J commanded to execute judgment, Mt inducriminately, but each upon such as he was responsible.for. ~ven so is. eveIJ'. Ch:risti_an hel~ bound to exti~~te. by all need~ul violence his own BlDB and smful 1nchnat1ons winch cleave unto 1mqmty o.nd do dis- honour to God. For each one of us is responsible for all that is within him, and not for others, save by example and admonition (Rom. viii. 13 ; 1 Cor. ix. 27; Gal. vi. 5; Ephes. v. 11 ; Col. iii 6, where "mortify" is simply "put to death"), H. Consider again, with respect to 'l'HB BIN Oll' Zrnn1-l. That the bad txample and negli,gence of the chi.efs went further in fflC()uraging Mia evil tlian the <kcla·red wrath of God in discouraging it. It would have bee~ impo~sible for such a t):ing to have occurred if the leaders of Israel had been domg their duty. Even soma society nominally Christian the bad example of its leaders has much rnore effect than all the denunciations of Scripture. Nothing is more remarkable than the ex• treme insolence witli which the worst vices are ever ready to assert themselves, and to flaunt their vileness in the face of day, if they find encouragement, or even toler- ation, with those that lead opinion and set the fashion. Worse sins than that of Zimri, such as adultery, and murder (in the form of duelling), have been and nre pra.cti.sed without shame and witliout rebuke by those who claim the name and privilege of Christians. 2. That the rank of the two offender• no doubt incrcued CB. XXV, 1-18.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 349