CONTENTS This Chapter contains a melancholy relation of Israel's disobedience, and the LORD'S displeasure. The people murmur. Moses' meekness forsakes him; and in his fretfulness he ventures to expostulate with GOD. The lust of Israel is gratified, but the LORD'S judgment follows. Numbers 11:1 Wha... [ Continue Reading ]
Is not Moses here a type of the ever-blessed JESUS? Reader! do not fail to learn from hence, in all thy trials, and under all thy transgressions, to go to JESUS. 1 John 2:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Taberah means a burning.... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe, the murmuring begins with the mixed multitude, but it doth not end there. Israel also is soon infected. How necessary that precept, Ephesians 5:11. My soul! are not all the lusts of a corrupt nature of the same kind? Romans 3:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe, to what a desperate state of daring impiety the soul may be led, when no longer under the restraints of grace. See an awful instance in the case of Jonah, Numbers 4:8. How could Israel be so lost, as to talk of their pleasures and enjoyments in Egypt, when they had so long groaned under the... [ Continue Reading ]
See how wretched a state the mind of man is capable of being reduced to by sin! To speak lightly and contemptuously of angel's food, which fell around their tents, without labour on their part to procure, and without pains to gather. Is there not a spiritual illustration of this passage? May we not... [ Continue Reading ]
Paul's advice on this subject is very earnest, 1 Corinthians 10:1. But what I would most earnestly beg the Reader to keep in view in this history is, the spiritual illustration of it by Paul. He calls it spiritual meat; and positively explains it, in the Chapter I have just referred to, in reference... [ Continue Reading ]
Let us pause over these verses to lament the corruptions and imperfections of our poor fallen nature, which we behold even in so great a man as Moses bursting forth so unseemly. Alas! what is man in his highest attainments, when left but for one moment void of the preserving grace of GOD! Dearest JE... [ Continue Reading ]
There is no immediate reason given why the number appointed should be seventy; but it is remarkable that the LORD JESUS in after ages appointed seventy disciples by way of aid to the apostles. And the Sanhedrim, which was the great court of the Jews, consisted of the same number. Luke 10:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Not that the LORD lessened the influences of his HOLY SPIRIT on the mind of Moses, in order to impart the same to others. There is enough in GOD to supply all. One sun warms and enlightens the whole world. Reader! how sweet the thought; there is enough in our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Sun of righteousn... [ Continue Reading ]
Reader! behold in this instance the awfulness of having our appetites, according to the wishes of our corrupt nature, gratified. Was not that prayer of Agar founded on a conviction of this? Proverbs 30:8. There is but one object in the universe but what cloys in enjoyment, and that is JESUS. Reader!... [ Continue Reading ]
Reader! do not overlook the weakness of Moses' faith in this instance. Is this the same person who at the LORD'S command fetched water from the very rock? Learn from hence what man is when left to himself, and what the same man may be when supported by divine aid. Philippians 4:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
It is very profitable to convert this question into a prayer when we plead at any time with GOD. Isaiah 59:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Reader! do not forget that the same Almighty GOD is now frequently descending by the influences of his HOLY SPIRIT on the minds of his people, for their sanctification; for this is among the ascension gifts of the LORD JESUS. John 14:16. Neither overlook the evidence this passage, among others which... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe, that those persons were written, that is appointed to this service, and then the blessing is the same. It is very precious to have our names enrolled among the LORD'S people. See what a distinguishing mark of approbation the Redeemer puts on this, Luke 10:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth not the conduct of those who were displeased on this occasion correspond to the party spirit of later ages? Let JESUS be but glorified, and his real disciples will never despise the poverty or weakness of the instrument. See Paul's maxim on this subject, Philippians 1:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Oh! what a lovely feature of character doth Moses manifest in this instance! And is it not the wish and prayer of every true follower of the LORD? Romans 10:1. Is not the Reader reminded of an interesting scene in the ministry of JESUS in this transaction? See Luke 9:49.... [ Continue Reading ]
If, as some have thought, these quails were the same in nature and genus as the locusts, which came up at the command of GOD into the land of Egypt, the blessing was doubly grateful: that what, in the one instance, proved so destructive, should in the other become so nourishing. Exodus 10:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
Reader! behold again in this instance the awful consequence in having our carnal, ungovernable appetites gratified. LORD! do thou regulate our inordinate affections, and bring every thought and desire into captivity to the obedience of CHRIST. 2 Corinthians 10:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
Kibroth Hattaavah means the graves of lust, 1 Corinthians 10:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS MY soul! pause over this Chapter, and behold in Israel's murmuring and disobedience the picture of thine own heart. How often hast thou repined at thy GOD'S appointment, when matters have for a short space appeared a little thwarting to flesh and blood? Many a time since grace renewed t... [ Continue Reading ]