Numbers 14:18-24
“‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.’ In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” The LORD replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times– not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.”
Little does the world think how much they are indebted to the saints. They are:
the cluster, for the sake of which the vineyard of the Lord is spared, Isaiah 65:8;
the elect, for whose sake the days of vengeance have been often shortened, Matthew 24:22;
the little remnant, without which the whole world would long since have been made as Sodom and Gomorrah, Isaiah 1:9.
In the passage before us we have this very matter exhibited in a striking point of view. The whole people of Israel were in a state of rebellion against God; and God was meditating their utter extermination. But Moses lifts up his heart in prayer for them; and, by his importunate intercession, averts the judgments which were ready to burst upon them.
Let us consider,
I. The prayer which Moses offered.
This did not relate to the eternal salvation of the people, except incidentally and by remote consequence; it had respect only to the threatening which God had denounced against the people. Having reason to fear that God would “smite them all with a pestilence, and disinherit them” utterly, verse 11, 12, Moses entreated God to spare them, and urged such arguments as he judged most suitable to the occasion. These pleas of his deserve an attentive consideration.
1. He pressed upon God a regard for his own honor.
“What will the Egyptians and the Canaanites say? Will they not ascribe the destruction of this people to a lack of power in you to accomplish your projected plans, verse 13-16. O let them not have such cause for triumph! Let them not have so specious an occasion to blaspheme your name!”
This was an argument of great weight. He had used it successfully on a former occasion, Exodus 32:12; and God himself had acknowledged its force, Deuteronomy 32:26-27. See also Ezekiel 20:9; Ezekiel 20:14; Ezekiel 20:22; Ezekiel 20:44. This therefore is a plea which we should use; we should use it with God, as an inducement to him to keep us, Psalm 5:8; Jeremiah 14:21; and we should use it with ourselves, as an incentive to vigilance and circumspection, 1 Timothy 6:1. We should be exceeding tender for God’s honor; and, when tempted to the commission of any sin, we should think, How will the Philistines rejoice, and the uncircumcised triumph? 2 Samuel 1:20. How will they “blaspheme that sacred name by which I am called, James 2:7.” O that I may “never thus give occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully, 1 Timothy 5:14.”
2. He pressed upon God a conformity to his own perfections.
Did you not, O my God, when proclaiming your name to me, represent yourself as “long-suffering, and of great mercy, and as forgiving iniquity and transgression, though you would not clear the guilty, verses 17, 18 which refers to Exodus 34:6-7.” Let it now be seen that this is indeed your character. I do not ask that you should “leave them altogether unpunished; but only that you should not make a full end of them. That clause, “by no means clearing the guilty,” may, both in Exodus 34:7 and in this place, be rendered “clearing, I will not clear,” that is not make desolate. The word “guilty” is not in the original. In that sense it will be exactly parallel with Jeremiah 30:11. But the sense affixed to it in the translation is probably the right one, though the other is better suited to the purpose for which it is here adduced, as you have threatened.”
Here, methinks, is a plea, which, almost above all others, it befits us to urge in all our supplications at the throne of grace. The character of God, as a God of infinite mercy—is that which encourages our addresses to him. When every other ground of hope fails, this is still firm. If only we do not “limit the Holy One of Israel,” we can never be at a loss for “arguments with which to fill our mouths” at the throne of grace. O let us study well the representations which God has given of himself, and especially that to which Moses referred; then, even in our lowest state of guilt or misery, we shall never despair of obtaining mercy at his hands.
3.He pressed upon God a consistency with his own conduct.
“You have forgiven this people from Egypt even until now; and will you abandon them at last? O let it not be so; pardon, I beseech you—yet again and again their iniquity, according unto the greatness of your unbounded mercy, verse 19.”
This plea, if used with men, would have had no weight; it would have operated rather to prevent the repetition of mercies which had been so abused. But, with God, it avails much; and in our minds too, it is a most encouraging consideration. We may look back and see how God has borne with all our frowardness from our youth up to the present moment; and may take occasion from his past forbearance to supplicate the continuance of it, “Remember, O Lord, your tender mercies, and your loving-kindnesses; for they have been ever of old, Psalm 25:6.” Yes; we should “account the long-suffering of God to be salvation, 2 Peter 3:15,” and the goodness he has already exercised towards us as a motive and encouragement to repentance, Romans 2:4.
Such was the prayer of Moses, a prayer peculiarly excellent, because it was a holy pleading with God. Let us now proceed to consider,
II. The answer which Moses obtained.
“I have forgiven them,” says God, “according to your word. You have entreated me to spare them; and I will spare them; but, I swear by my own life, that the whole of my conduct on this occasion shall be such, as shall procure me honor to the remotest ends of the earth, and to the latest period of time. Every one of my perfections shall be now displayed; now will I exhibit before my people such rays of my glory, as shall illumine the benighted heathen, and fill the whole earth with wonder.”
Now then, my brethren, let us contemplate this subject with holy awe; let us beg of God to take away the veil from our hearts, that we may see wherein this glory of his consists. Let us behold,
1. God’s condescension in hearing prayer.
Here was a whole nation involved in actual rebellion against God; and one single individual betakes himself to prayer. What, it may be said, can a single individual do? Read the answer of God, and see. He replies, not, “I will pardon,” but, “I have pardoned;” “the very moment you lifted up your voice, my hands were tied, and I could no longer persist in my resolution to destroy them. Compare Daniel 9:20-21; Daniel 9:23. I have pardoned according to your word, and to the full extent of your petitions.”
O, who after this will ever doubt the efficacy of prayer? If God answered so speedily the prayer of one on behalf of a rebellious nation, what will he not do for those who supplicate mercy for themselves? Will he ever cast out their prayer? No! Let the whole universe know, that he is “a God that hears prayer,” and that not even the vilest of the human race shall “ever seek his face in vain.”
2. God’s mercy in forbearing vengeance.
Consider the mercies which that nation had experienced, and the extent of that wickedness which they now committed; consider that they cast the most bitter reflections on God himself, and actually appointed a captain to lead them back to Egypt, Nehemiah 9:17; and were proceeding to murder those who exhorted them to obedience. Could it be supposed that such people should be spared, spared too after God had said he would instantly cut them off? Whom then will he not spare? Who, while on praying-ground, can be considered as beyond the reach of mercy?
Let us not despair of any; nor let any despair of themselves; He is the same God as ever, “slow to anger, and of great kindness, and ready to turn from the evil” which he has thought to inflict upon us, the very moment that he can do it in consistency with his own perfections.
3. God’s justice in punishing sin.
Though he forbore to destroy the nation at large, he executed immediate vengeance on those who were the leaders and instigators of the rebellion, verse 36, 37. Nor were the people themselves left unpunished. They had expressed a wish that they had died in the wilderness; now God gave them their wish; and declared that not one of those who had rebelled against him should ever see the promised land. Forty days had been spent in searching the land of Canaan; and forty years were they condemned to bear their iniquities, until their carcasses would be consumed in the wilderness.
What a solemn lesson does this give to the ungodly world! Who must not tremble for fear of his judgments? Who does not see that it is vain to hope for impunity on account of the number of those who tread the paths of wickedness? The question is often confidently put by sinners: Do you think that God will condemn so many? We answer, If you would know what God will do, look at what he has done; inquire, how many of those who came out of Egypt ever were admitted into the land of Canaan; and when you have learned that, you will know how God will proceed in the day of judgment, See 1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 3:17-19; Hebrews 4:1; Jude verse 5. Let all the world hear this, and tremble; for “truly there is a God that judges in the earth!”
4. God’s goodness in rewarding virtue.
Two of the spies were faithful to their God, and behold how God interposed for them! The congregation was just going to stone them, and God instantly displayed his glory in such a manner as to horrify the hearts of their enemies. To them also he bore testimony, that they had “followed him fully;” and he promised them, that though every other man throughout all the tribes should die in the wilderness, they should go into the promised land, and enjoy the inheritance reserved for them, verse 24, 30.
Do any of the human race wish to ascertain whether their works shall be rewarded? Let them look to this history; let them here see how God will protect his people; and how assuredly those who serve him in time, shall dwell with him in eternity. Surely none who hear these records will ever be afraid of being singular, or of bearing persecution for righteousness’ sake. No! From henceforth every soul should be emboldened to “confess Christ before men,” and to “cleave unto him with full purpose of heart.”
5. God’s faithfulness in fulfilling his word.
Here was a strong temptation to rescind his promises; and indeed, because of the appearance of so doing, God says, “You shall know my breach of promise verse 34.” But the promise was not made to that people, that they at all events should inherit the land of Canaan; it was made to Abraham, that his seed should inherit it; and, both on this and a former occasion, when God threatened to destroy the present generation, he offered to raise up a nation from the loins of Moses, and to give the promised land to them, verse 12 with Exodus 32:10.
God fulfilled his word in every point; and Joshua appealed to the whole nation of Israel for the truth of this, Joshua 23:14; just as did Solomon many hundred years after him 1 Kings 8:56. None therefore need to be afraid of trusting in God; for “he is not a man that he should lie, or the son of man that he should repent, Numbers 23:19.” Let the whole world be assured, that they may safely rely on him; that “not one jot or tittle of his word shall ever fail;” that “faithful is He who has promised;” and that “what he has promised he is able also to perform.” Be it known therefore, I say, “that those who trust in him shall not be ashamed or confounded world without end! Isaiah 45:17.”
6. God’s power to accomplish his own sovereign will and pleasure.
The people had expressed their fears that their little ones would fall a prey to the warlike inhabitants of Canaan. Now, says God, “those very children, who you said would be a prey, even them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised, verse 31.” As weak as you judge them to be, I will give them the victory; and not an enemy shall be able to stand before them.
Hear this, you drooping, doubting Christians! Let the whole world hear it; yes, let it never be forgotten, that “God ordains strength in babes and sucklings;” that “his strength is perfected in their weakness;” and that through him the weakest of us shall be “more than conquerors.” Who is weaker than Paul in his own apprehension? “I have not,” says he, “a sufficiency even to think a good thought;” yet who is stronger in reality? “I can do all things,” says he, “through Christ who strengthens me, Philippians 4:13.” Let the weak then say, “I am strong, Job 3:10;” “let the feeble be as David, and the house of David be as the angel of the Lord, Zechariah 12:8.”
APPLICATION.
Behold now this glory of the Lord! see how it shines throughout this mysterious dispensation! See:
his condescension in hearing prayer,
his mercy in forbearing vengeance,
his justice in punishing sin,
his goodness in rewarding virtue,
his faithfulness in fulfilling his word, and
his power to execute his sovereign will and pleasure!
Let the whole earth contemplate it; let all transmit the knowledge of it to those around them; and assist in spreading it to the remotest heathen; let all expect the time when this view of God shall be universal through the world—and all shall give him the glory of his immutable perfections.
And, while we view the glory of God in his past works, let us remember what will be the final outcome of all his dispensations. His glory will hereafter shine in still brighter splendor. When his answers to the prayers of all his people shall be known, how marvelous will his condescension and grace appear! When the sins of the whole world shall be made manifest, how shall we be filled with wonder at his long-suffering and forbearance! How tremendous will his justice and severity be found, when millions of impenitent sinners are cast headlong into the bottomless abyss!
And when his obedient people shall be exalted to thrones of glory, how will his goodness and mercy be admired and adored! Then also will his truth and faithfulness be seen in the exact completion of every promise he has ever given; and his power and might be gratefully acknowledged by all whom he has redeemed, sanctified, and saved!
This then is certain, that in every human being he will be glorified. But the question is, How will he be glorified in me? will it be in my salvation, or condemnation? In answering this question aright we are all deeply interested; nor will it be difficult to answer it, provided we inquire what our real character is. Do we resemble the unbelieving and rebellious Israelites, or those believing spies who “followed the Lord fully?” Vast was the difference between them, and consequently the discrimination will be easy. The Lord grant that we may “so judge ourselves now, that we may not be judged of the Lord” in that solemn day!
Charles Simeon (1759-1836)