THE KING’S BUSINESS
476
doomed the Canaanites to destruction for unspeakable wickedness, idolatry and vice. They suffered only what they had often inflicted. They would (and their remnant afterward did) fatally contaminate Israel. They are, like Sodom and Gomorrah (Jude 7), an example. II. T h e B razen S erpent (vs. 4:9). - 1. A ' Hard Road. Refused passage through Edom (Num. 20:18), Israel turned back by a dreary and difficult road. “Dis couraged,” they “spake” against God and Moses. It was the Old cry for »bread and water so often wonderfully and bountifully supplied. (1) They should have spoken to God, not against Him. (2) They should have trusted that He who had delivered would deliver (2 Cor. 1 :10). * (3) The daily bread (manna) they did receive should have .been the sweet and grateful assurance of provision they should receive, not of death. (4) Soldiers and pilgrims should endure hardness (2 Tim. 2:3), and not look, in camp or on the march, for the dainty and plenty of home and rest (John 16:33). 2. The Chastisement (v. 6). “The Lord sent fiery serpents,” “fiery darts” of Satan (Eph. 6:16), and not having “the shield of faith,” “much people of Israel died.” But for Great Grace none would have sur vived. 3. The Confession and Intercession (v. 7). “We have sinned” preceded pardon (2 Sam. 12:13; 1 John 1:7-9), and so did intercession; “Moses prayed for the peo ple,” type of the true Mediator (1 John 2 : 1 );. 4. The Cure (vs. 8, 9). It was (1) God appointed (Rom. 3 :24, 25) ; (2) of “brass,” symbol of judgment; (3) a serpent, symbol of sin (Gen. 3:14, 15; 1 Cor. 5:21); (4) “lifted up,” type of the cross (John 12: 32, 33) ; (5) by a look of obedient faith (Heb. 12:1, 2 ); a specified type (John 3: 14, 15). “Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth.”
III. T h e W elling W aters ( vs . 16-18). 1. After the Cross (in type); Pentecost (in type) (Acts 2:1, 17; John 7:39). 2. After Pentecost, | (1) gladness and spiritual song (v. 17; Acts 2:46, 47; Col. 3:16). IV. T h e M any C onquests (vs. 19-35). After Pentecost, (2) power and victory (Acts 1:8). V. T h e T rue and F a ith fu l G od (Num. 22—24). 1. Balak’s Terror (22:1-4). Not “Balak and Balaam” (as with most lesson helps), are the subjects of character studies in these "chapters, but Jehovah, the true and faithful God. His self-revealing miracles of judgment and grace resounded far and wide (Joshua 2:8-11). His dealings with Israel, were His revealings to the world, and left it without excuse. 2. Prevailing Religious Notions. (1) Each nation had its gods; recognized those of others; believed Jehovah a god, but of Israel only. (2) They believed gods might be induced by cajolery or magical control to transfer their patronage from one tribe to another; and (3) that magicians could by secret arts influence or compel a god to do so. Hence, Balak sent for Balaam, a renowned soothsayer, to try his spells on Jehovah. 3. The Case with Balaam. He believed in his a rt; was “up” in his profession, posted. on gods and their doings, even on the promises and dealings of Jehovah with Israel. Eager for Balak’s fee, he professed to Balak’s deputation to be on terms with Jehovah; called Him “Jehovah,” and “my God,” whose oracle he would seek. His enchantments (24:1), probably to ,his amazement, this time brought a clear re sponse, “Thou shalt not go,” Balak’s sec ond offer led him to try again. Jehovah said, “Go . . . but” (v. 20). He would let the wilful wizard plunge on his way to market Israel, and to destruction. As he did later Judas, when He said to him, “What thou doest do quickly.” The eager covetousness of “the mad prophet” (2 Peter 2 :16) to cash his curSes, to chance his
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