CONTENTS Israel, having left the Red sea, journeyeth into the wilderness, and from Elim arrives at Sin. The people murmur for want of bread. God supplies them miraculously, in a method till then unknown. Manna is rained from heaven, and quails cover the camp. The people are taught how to gather the... [ Continue Reading ]
By the whole, may we not, according to scripture in other instances, suppose it meant the greater part. Genesis 19:4; Numbers 16:41.... [ Continue Reading ]
What an awful instance of the desperately wicked state of the human heart! Is this the same Israel which so lately sung God's mercies at the Red sea? Did Israel indeed live in such plenty by the flesh pots in Egypt? And would it have been better to have died in Egypt, and by the hand of the Lord too... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe, how the Lord magnifies the riches of his grace. Might not the Lord have justly said, I will rain down fire and brimstone to destroy them. Compare what the Lord did in this instance with what he did in the case of Sodom; and then ask the question of your own heart, what greater evidence do y... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe, how frequent notice is taken that the Lord knew the murmurings of the people. Observe what Moses saith, that, in effect, it is with God they were displeased, and not with his servants. So the apostle reasoneth, Romans 13:1. Observe, though God pardons sin, he chastiseth the sinner; see Jere... [ Continue Reading ]
May we not spiritualize this passage, and say, when the word of God is delivered by his sent servants, it is in fact God himself speaking in the word, and by the word. So Paul thought, 1 Thessalonians 2:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
There are two sweet and precious points intimated in these words; the one is, that God undertakes to supply all the wants of his people. Their eyes are to be taken off from Moses, and to be directed to the Lord. John 6:32. The other is, that thereby he proves himself to be their God, and they his pe... [ Continue Reading ]
Some have thought that the quail is the same as the locust. But the Psalmist, in recording this mercy of the Lord, speaks of it as a feathered fowl having wings. Psalms 78:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
Manna, or as it is, Man-hu; that is, what is it? A nameless, great mercy: sweet and pleasant to the taste, and probably from its qualities medicinal also. Under how many and various ways was it recommended to the Israelites? It was from above. It was the Lord's immediate gift. It formed a daily supp... [ Continue Reading ]
An Omer is about 5 pints of our measure.... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle is the best commentator on this, 2 Corinthians 8:15. Probably they gathered in families, or households; and so each had his proportion after. But is there not a sweet spiritual sense here, respecting the measure of the gospel? He that gathers most of Jesus, hath nothing over, nothing to... [ Continue Reading ]
Sweet thought suggested here! Faith wants no hoards. And he who most knows God, will best know how to trust him. But beside this instruction, I think there is another equally sweet. Considered as a figure of better things to come, a whole Christ, a finished salvation, is perhaps implied. Let no man... [ Continue Reading ]
Oh! the sad mistrusting heart of unbelief, Reader! do you not sometimes groan from the indwelling remains of it? See Psalms 78:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
Psalms 136:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
See Exodus 16:5, and Leviticus 25:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
The process of preparing the manna we read, Numbers 11:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
The preservation of the Manna, pure and sweet on the sabbath day, while on the other days if laid by it bred worms, and stank, plainly shows that it was not the effect of natural causes. And is there not a spiritual sense in this also, when our corrupt nature is preserved by divine grace? 1 Peter 1:... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 4:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Reader! observe the continued instances of disobedience. Look within, and see whether similar testimonies are not there.... [ Continue Reading ]
I could wish that the jealousy which the Lord in this place, and in numberless other passages in the Bible, manifests for the observance of his holy day, was made the serious subject of consideration by all ranks and orders in this land. Oh! what a volume would it furnish if the profanations of only... [ Continue Reading ]
May we not spiritualize this verse? Is not Jesus, when first revealed, a secret name? Exodus 32:29; Judges 13:18. And what saith the Church of him? Song of Solomon 5:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle takes notice of this, Hebrews 9:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
Here was a standing miracle of God's power in the preservation of this food, which 24 hours could not keep pure in its own natural state. And was not this a type of the Church, amidst all her foes, and her own tendency to corruptions.... [ Continue Reading ]
The testimony was the ark, which held the tables of the law. Exodus 25:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe, the food of Israel ceased not through all their journey. Though they were continually rebellious and full of murmurings, the Lord's mercies still continued. They were froward children, but they were children still. Gracious God! well might they sing: for thy mercy endureth ever. Psalms 136:... [ Continue Reading ]
An Ephah being 10 times as much in measure as an Omer, must contain nearly 50 pints English. REFLECTIONS My soul! learn in Israel's history what the Israel of God, more or less, hath been, in all ages. We left them in the former chapter sitting under their palm trees, and blessing God in their frui... [ Continue Reading ]