The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 376

as to nnmbere; the fluctuations of the tribes, some increasing, others decrerising; in particular, the extraordinary decrease in Simeon arrests attention. But all these are passed over as not needing notice. There is one thing, however, to which attention is specially called, nnd indeed it must have been kept in view all the censu& through, namely, that not one of those numbered in the previous census was now alive. Those counted now had not been counted before. I. A'ITENTION IS CALLED TO A FULFILLED PREDICTION. It deserves special attention- as a very remarkable, exact, and early fulfilment of prediction. Most of God's pre- dictions for Israel worked on to their fnlfilment slowly and imperceptibly through many generations ; some in the highest sense of them are still incomplete; but here was a prediction concerning the present, moving to its fulfilment under the very eye& of many whom in their turn it would also include. Surely it must often have been talked of in the tents of Israel. And here was another purpose that the census served -to show clearly and impressively that the prediction had been fulfilled, The fulfil. ment had its dark side and its bright one. It was an impressive proof that what penalties God attaches to sin he can accomplish to their full extent. All had perished save Caleb and Joshua. Things bad happened exacUy as God said they woold, th& people themselves being witnesses. "If any one numbered in the previous census i& still alive, save Caleb and Joshua, let him step forward," Moses and Eleazar mighl ban said. But they were all silent in the mystery of a peculiar death. Rightly looked at, it was very comforting and inspiring for Israel to go into Canaan with such a wonderful proof of God's power in their minds. He who had so manifestly fulfilled such a peculiar prediction might be confidently expected to keep his word in all others. II. THE COMPLETENESS OF' THE DIVINE CONTROL OVER THE TERM OF' HUMAN LJJ'B. What God did in the particular instance of this generation he can do in any and every generation, with any and every one of the children of men, We talk very gnndly sometimes of the value of a sonnd constitution, the prudence of attending t4> the laws of health, and taking such means as may preserve life to a ripe old age. But while these considerations are indeed not to be neglected, God's will also must be taken into acconnt, as at least a poslible regulating force in the term of every bmnan life. He may have some weighty reason of his own for shortening or length- ening, which will nullify alike the prudence of some and the recklessness of others. It is not competent for us to say that he does actually interfere in every instance, a& he so plainly did with the men of this doomed generation ; it is enough for us to feel that he has power to do it. We have here but one out of many evidences to be found in the Scriptures that God has death completely under restraint. He can· keep us back from its grasp as long as may seem good to him. He can also allow ns to fall into its grasp, if thereby his own purposes will be better served. They are much more important than the devices and desires which arise out of our selfish, ignorant, and une.:xperienced hearts. Ill THE SPECIAL INTERVENTION IN THIS INSTANCE SUGGESTS THAT, AS A llENERAL. BULE, NAT!lllE JS LEFT TO ITS OWN COURSE. Every one entering this world is left to the play of what, for want of a better term, may be called the forces of nature. St> much of natural vitality and energy, so much power of ossimilation and growth;· ffO much, sometimes good and sometimes bad, by way of inheritance from parents, and~ over and above what may be peculiar, the taint of that depravity which is the common calamity of the children of men-these ar11 the elements with which we have to do our beet. And might we not hope, if only the obstacles were taken away which arise from ignorance, error, prejudice, sensuality, and slavery to base appetites of e'9'ery sort, that the term of human life would be extended far beyond what it is in th., great majority of instances? Should it not be reckoned the normal state of things, the state of things according to God's own wish, for those who come into the world as infants to go out of it as old men? The reason why so many do not should be made a matter of urgent, light-seeking, personal inquiry. It is a very misleading thin~ to speak, and without any real authority to do so, of God culling people aw~y ; particularly infant8 and children, who furnish such a largo and melancholy proport10n, of the world's mortality. We foreclose m11ny questions of the greatest moment by a traditional, thought-bell.umbing fatalism, a seemingly pious, yet really impiowi, ml. XXVI. 1-65.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS.