Numbers 16:41-50 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying… I. To say that this evil had ITS ORIGIN in sin, would be to say nothing. All evil proceeds from sin : there is not a pang or sorrow in the universe which has not this as its source. But then suffering owes its existence to sin in various ways. Sometimes it is sent in mercy to prevent sin; thus Paul had a thorn in the flesh "lest he should be exalted." At other times it comes to discover sin and subdue it in the Christian's heart. "Before I was afflicted," says David, "I went astray, but now have I kept Thy word." More frequently, however, its design is to answer the purposes of God's moral government; to punish sin: to manifest the abhorrence in which the great Ruler of the universe holds it, and thus to deter His creatures from the commission of it. And such was its object here. The Israelites had sinned against the Lord; this plague was the punishment of their sin. 1. This offence involved in it an overlooking of God's providence; at all events, a refusing to acknowledge it. God will not allow us to say for ever, "Accident brought this evil on me, chance this disease, a casualty this bereavement, the injustice or treachery of my fellow-man this loss and poverty." Either by His Spirit, or by His providence, or by both, God will drive this atheism out of us. He will force us to say, "It is the Lord. He is in this place, and I knew it not. Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth." 2. The murmuring of these sinners included in it also a daring censure of God's ways. Whatever God does bears the impress of God. In some way or other it manifests His perfections, and consequently is calculated to bring honour to His name. Now a mind in a right state praises Him for every work of His hands; and it does so on account of the traces of His glory it either discovers in that work, or, though hidden, believes to be there. Indeed, this is God's great design in all His doings, to draw forth praise from His creatures by revealing to them His excellencies, and thus to surround Himself with a delighted and adoring universe. It follows, then, that to censure any of God's ways is, as far as in us lies, to frustrate the object at which God aims in these ways; to rob Him of His honour, and worse than this — to asperse His character and vindicate His enemies. And of this offence these Israelites were guilty. 3. There was yet a third evil comprehended in the murmuring of these Israelites; and this was a contempt of God's warnings. Millions of our race have already perished; the destroying angel is hastening to cut down millions more. The world some of us deem so fair and happy is nothing better than the camp of Israel — a scene of mercy, it is true, but yet a scene of misery, terror, and death. How anxious, then, should we be to look around for a deliverer! Blessed be God, there is One near. This history speaks of Him. II. Consider now THE CESSATION OF THE PESTILENCE. 1. It was effected by one who might have been supposed least likely to interfere for such a purpose. Can we fail to discover here the great High Priest of God's guilty church, the despised and rejected Jesus? Aaron was a type of Him. 2. The cessation of this plague was attended with a display of the most self-denying and ardent love. 3. The cessation of this plague was brought about by means that seemed altogether inadequate, that appeared, in fact, to have no connection at all with the end proposed. (C. Bradley, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD. |
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