The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 374

vidential ordering of the momentous turning-point in life which he and hit1 com- panions had now roached, the same thoughtful and wise Hand which appointed to the tribes under Joshua their inheritance in the promi11ed land ; and the language of the Old Testament history rose naturally to his lips. I. To do justice to this aspect of Divine providence, it is of consequence to con- sider well WHAT AN IMPORTANT BUSINESS IS THE ORDERING OF TIIE LOCALITY IN WHI0B MEN ARE TO PASS THEIR DAYS. The complexion of a nation's life and the tenor of its history are exceedingly affected by the sort of locality where it has its seat. A nation whose lot is fixed in the impenetrable depths of Africa, how different its history must necessarily be from that of a nation which has received for inheritance a sea-girt land, like Greece or Italy, Great Britu.in or Scandinavia I The one is sequestered from all quickening intercourse, and is likely to sleep on in o. semi-torpid state ; the other lies open to the influence of every tide of foreign thought and sentiment. Now it was precisely this question of looaluy which was determined for the tribes by lot. It is a mistake to suppose that the lot determined everything. The division of the country was to proceed on the principle that the extent of territory bestowed on the respective tribes was to be proportioned to the number of names in each (,ere. 53, 54). A glance at the map will show how carefully this was attended to. The number of acres .vhich fell to the lot of " little Benjamin " was much smaller than the number embraced in the inheritance of "the mighty tribe of Ephraim." The business of thus apportioning to every tribe a domain corresponding to the num- ber of its families was devolved on a Commission of Twelve, under the oversight of Eleazar and Joshua (eh. xxxiv. 16-29). But before these commissioners could make the apportionment, it had first to be determined whereabouta each tribe was to be planted ; and this was done by lot. The Lord reserved to himself the business of determining the bounds of his people's habitation. And, I repeat, this was a momentous determination. If Judah, instead of occupying the inland hills and val- leys of the south, had received for its inheritance the :iot of Simeon, on the coast of the Mediterranean, and in the way of the Gentiles, how different the course of its history wonld have been I IL CoNSIDEB THE PROVIDENCE OJI' GOD IN THIS MATTER OJI' ORDERING THE BOUNDS 011 MEN'S HABITATIONS. It is not the tribes of Israel only about whose bounds Divine providence is exercised. Read Deut. mii 8 and Acts xvii. 26. But although God " from the place of his habitation looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth," it is equally evident from the Scripture that his providence occupies itself very specially about the &ffairs of his chosen people, and particularly about the ordering of their lot. 1. H(J'I,() true thia i, might be shown by many clear testimonies of Holy Scripture. At present it may be sufficient to remind you of the testimony borne by daily experience. When you left school you had in your mind many pro- jects and resolves about the future-where you would settle, and what you would do. Have these stood? Have they not rather, in nine cases out of ten, been quite over- ruled jl You proposed, but God disposed. Your portion has fallen to you br lot. 2 This being so it i,a mrely your duty to con,i,der Gori' s hand and providence in the matter. "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord" (Prov. xvi. 33). Here again experience says Amen to God's word. The man must have been blind indeed who has never perceived the hand of a special providence prospering or frustrating his purposes, and ordering his lot far better than he could himself have ordered it. 3. Due consideration of God's ho.nd will move the soul to trust hi.a prO'lli,dence. Abraham, being told of a country which he should afterwards receive for inheritance, went out trustfully, although he knew not whither he went. This we also are to do ; it is the proper fruit and demonstration of our faith. And as we are to go forward in faith ourselves, so we are in faith to send forth into the world those most dear to us. We need not doubt that in answer to the prayer of faith the Lord will appoint to them a suito.ble lot, and give them cause to sing, "The lines are fallen unto we in pleasant plo.ces; yea, I have a goodly heritage" (Ps. xvi. 6).-B. Yel'I!, 1~2--The second Cffl81U. I. THB PURP0SB oir IT. 1. The number of taose able to go to ao1&r in Israel had ,till to be cucertained. Though the people are now 'CB. XXVI. 1-65.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 361