Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc09/v11950

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 7KB | 124 lines

11957
 #11-28 After the Israelites had continued nearly a year at mount
 Sinai, and all was settled respecting their future worship, they
 began their march to Canaan. True religion begins with the
 knowledge of the holy law of God, and humiliation for sin, but
 we must go on towards perfection, in acquaintance with Christ
 and his gospel, and those effectual encouragements, motives, and
 assistances to holiness, which it proposes. They took their
 journey according to the commandment of the Lord, #De 1:6-8|,
 and as the cloud led them. Those who give themselves to the
 direction of God's word and Spirit, steer a steady course, even
 when they seem bewildered. While they are sure they cannot lose
 their God and Guide, they need not fear losing their way. They
 went out of the wilderness of Sinai, and rested in the
 wilderness of Paran. All our removes in this world are but from
 one wilderness to another. The changes we think will be for the
 better do not always prove so. We shall never be at rest, never
 at home, till we come to heaven, but all will be well there.

11975
 #29-32 Moses invites his kindred to go to Canaan. Those that are
 bound for the heavenly Canaan, should ask and encourage their
 friends to go with them: we shall have none the less of the joys
 of heaven, for others coming to share with us. It is good having
 fellowship with those who have fellowship with God. But the
 things of this world, which are seen, draw strongly from the
 pursuit of the things of the other world, which are not seen.
 Moses urges that Hobab might be serviceable to them. Not to show
 where they must encamp, nor what way they must march, the cloud
 was to direct that; but to show the conveniences of the place
 they marched through, and encamped in. It well consists with our
 trust in God's providence, to use the help of our friends.

11979
 #33-36 Their going out and coming in, gives an example to us to
 begin and end every day's journey and every day's work with
 prayer. Here is Moses's prayer when the ark set forward, "Rise
 up, and let thine enemies be scattered." There are those in the
 world who are enemies to God and haters of him; secret and open
 enemies; enemies to his truths, his laws, his ordinances, his
 people. But for the scattering and defeating of God's enemies,
 there needs no more than God's arising. Observe also the prayer
 of Moses when the ark rested, that God would cause his people to
 rest. The welfare and happiness of the Israel of God, consist in
 the continual presence of God among them. Their safety is not in
 their numbers, but in the favour of God, and his gracious return
 to them, and resting with them. Upon this account, Happy art
 thou, O Israel! who is like unto thee, O people! God will go
 before them, to find them resting-places by the way. His promise
 is, and their prayers are, that he will never leave them nor
 forsake them.
11983
 * The burning at Taberah. (1-3) The people lust for flesh, and
 loathe the manna. (4-9) Moses complains of his charge. (10-15)
 Elders appointed to divide the charge. Flesh meat promised.
 (16-23) The Spirit rests on the elders. (24-30) Quails are
 given. (31-35)

 #1-3 Here is the people's sin; they complained. See the
 sinfulness of sin, which takes occasion from the commandment to
 be provoking. The weakness of the law discovered sin, but could
 not destroy it; checked, but could not conquer it. They
 complained. Those who are of a discontented spirit, will always
 find something to quarrel or fret about, though the
 circumstances of their outward condition be ever so favourable.
 The Lord heard it, though Moses did not. God knows the secret
 frettings and murmurings of the heart, though concealed from
 men. What he noticed, he was much displeased with, and he
 chastised them for this sin. The fire of their wrath against God
 burned in their minds; justly did the fire of God's wrath fasten
 on their bodies; but God's judgments came on them gradually,
 that they might take warning. It appeared that God delights not
 in punishing; when he begins, he is soon prevailed with to let
 it fall.

11986
 #4-9 Man, having forsaken his proper rest, feels uneasy and
 wretched, though prosperous. They were weary of the provision
 God had made for them, although wholesome food and nourishing.
 It cost no money or care, and the labour of gathering it was
 very little indeed; yet they talked of Egypt's cheapness, and
 the fish they ate there freely; as if that cost them nothing,
 when they paid dearly for it with hard service! While they lived
 on manna, they seemed exempt from the curse sin has brought on
 man, that in the sweat of his face he should eat bread; yet they
 speak of it with scorn. Peevish, discontented minds will find
 fault with that which has no fault in it, but that it is too
 good for them. Those who might be happy, often make themselves
 miserable by discontent. They could not be satisfied unless they
 had flesh to eat. It is evidence of the dominion of the carnal
 mind, when we want to have the delights and satisfaction of
 sense. We should not indulge in any desire which we cannot in
 faith turn into prayer, as we cannot when we ask meat for our
 lust. What is lawful of itself becomes evil, when God does not
 allot it to us, yet we desire it.

11992
 #10-15 The provocation was very great; yet Moses expressed
 himself otherwise than became him. He undervalued the honour God
 had put upon him. He magnified his own performances, while he
 had the Divine wisdom to direct him, and Almighty power to
 dispense rewards and punishments. He speaks distrustfully of the
 Divine grace. Had the work been much less he could not have gone
 through it in his own strength; but had it been much greater,
 through God strengthening him, he might have done it. Let us
 pray, Lord, lead us not into temptation.

11998
 #16-23 Moses is to choose such as he knew to be elders, that is,
 wise and experienced men. God promises to qualify them. If they
 were not found fit for the employ, they should be made fit. Even
 the discontented people shall be gratified too, that every mouth
 may be stopped. See here, I. The vanity of all the delights of
 sense; they will cloy, but they will not satisfy. Spiritual
 pleasures alone will satisfy and last. As the world passes away,
 so do the lusts of it. 2. What brutish sins gluttony and
 drunkenness are! they make that to hurt the body which should be
 its health. Moses objects. Even true and great believers
 sometimes find it hard to trust God under the discouragements of
 second causes, and against hope to believe in hope. God here
 brings Moses to this point, The Lord God is Almighty; and puts
 the proof upon the issue, Thou shalt see whether my word shall
 come to pass or not. If he speaks, it is done.