Numbers 14

Murmuring springs from a bitter root, it comes from pride and discontent: it is a reproaching of God, and a high taking his name in vain. It is such a sin as God cannot bear (Numbers 14:27). How long shall I bear with this people that murmur against me?

But pride conjures up this devil of discontent, and hence come murmurings. Murmuring is a sin that God cannot bear (Numbers 14:27): "How long shall I bear with this people that murmur against me?" The murmurer discovers much ingratitude.

Because 1. the angels pry and search into the abyss of gospel mysteries (1 Peter 1:12), which implies their nescience of some parts of Scripture; and sure they cannot be authors of that book which themselves do not fully understand. Besides, 2. what angel in Heaven dared be so a…

The Apostle says, Fly from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14). But these rather fly to idolatry: herein we are like the people of Israel, who notwithstanding all the idolatry and tyranny of Egypt, yet longed to go back to Egypt (Numbers 14:4). Let us make a captain and return into E…

2. Distrust; men believe not that God can make a treacle of poison, bring good out of all their troubles, therefore they murmur (Psalm 106:24): They believed not his word, but murmured. Men murmur at God's providences because they distrust his promises; God has much ado to bear…

Alter idem. He is of another spirit (Numbers 14:24): My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit. When the harlot Lais came to one of her old acquaintance, after he was converted, and tempted him to sin, Ego non sum Ego, said he, I am not the same man.

1. He is made equal to God the Father, who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God (Philippians 2:6): again, All things that the Father has are mine (John 16:15). The children of Israel are said to have tempted Jehovah (Numbers 14:[22], 27): and Paul…

An excellent spirit was found in Daniel. (Numbers 14:24) My servant Caleb because he had another spirit with him. A wicked man has the spirit of the world (2 Corinthians 2:12).

The church's enemies are many and mighty — let that be granted. Yet that argument with which Caleb and Joshua strove to raise their own hearts is of as much force now as it was then: 'The Lord is with us; fear them not' (Numbers 14:9). The historian tells us that when Antigonus…

Well then, whatever God takes, be still thankful for what he leaves. It was the great sin of Israel in the wilderness, that though God had delivered them from their cruel servitude in Egypt, miraculously fed them in the desert, and was leading them on to a land flowing with milk…

3 The good land was a type of the heavenly rest (Hebrews 4:1), and (Hebrews 3:19) some entered not in through unbelief: why, what unbelief? The story shows us (Psalm 93:7; Numbers 14:9; Numbers 13:28) they doubted of the power of God, and believed the report of the unbelieving s…

3. There is a sinful tempting of God, and this is done two ways. 1. Generally, every transgression in a general sense is a tempting of God (Numbers 14:22): They have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice. Every eminent and notable provocation of thei…

Mark how they are comforted against the persecution coming upon them; partly because the cause was clearly God's, for all this trouble was by the instigation of the devil, making use of his instruments (Ephesians 2:2); he is called the Prince of the power of the air, the spirit…

For why should they enjoy that comfort which they had unkindly refused to give to others? He takes the mid-day here for extreme heat: and this similitude is often found in the scriptures, to wit, that the Lord was as a cloud at high noon, and as a pillar of fire by night (Exodus…

It is evident that there are Counterfeits of all Kinds of gracious Affections; as of Love to God, and Love to the Brethren, as has been just now observed: So of godly Sorrow for Sin, as in Pharaoh, Saul, and Ahab, and the Children of Israel in the Wilderness; Exodus 9:27, 1 Samu…

God will make all his Enemies to behold this, and to live in a most clear and affecting View of it, in Hell, to all Eternity. God hath often declared his immutable Purpose to make all his Enemies to know him in this Respect, in so often annexing these Words to the Threatenings h…

And though they could not doubt of God's authority, yet for all that, their frequent rebellions are plainly resolved into their infidelity. How long will this people provoke me? (Numbers 14:11) And how long will it be before [they believe me], for all the signs which I have show…

Whoever he compounds with, and pays short, he will be sure God shall not be a loser. He gives God a daily sacrifice; he follows God fully (Numbers 14:14). But covetous persons make the world their treasure, and what is their treasure, that does most command their hearts.

This generation God was exceeding angry with, and swore in his wrath, that they should not enter into his rest. But the younger generation were not so; the generation that were under twenty years old when they came out of Egypt, and those that were born in the wilderness, the ge…

Think how often we have appeared before God and the world, without our ornament, without our livery, to our shame. God kept account of the particular instances of the unquietness of Israel: they have tempted me (says he) now these ten times (Numbers 14:22). Conscience is God's r…

There was his trouble. And Moses (Numbers 14:15-16): What will the nations say round about? Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he swore to them, therefore he has slain them in the wilderness.

How long will this people slander me (says he,) and rob me of my honor? It is a complaint which he makes there by Moses (Numbers 14:11), and in many other places of the Scripture. And surely if Saint John's saying be true (John 3:33), namely, that when we believe God, we set to…

Our Saviour tells us, 'tis easier to say to an impotent man, "Arise, take up your bed and walk," than to say, "Your sins are forgiven you": and 'tis a declaration of his power (Matthew 9:5). And when Moses prays for pardon of Israel's sin, says he, let the power of the Lord be g…

And which forgiveness argues him to be a God of great love, rich in mercy, etc., or else sin could not be forgiven, it being easier to heal diseases, etc., than to forgive sins, as our Savior tells us (Matthew 9:5-6). 'Tis the manifestation of his power; according to what Moses…

In the end of it, and that is the honor and glory of God: whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Secondly, it is a universal obedience, which extends itself to all the commands of God alike, it respects the duties of both tables, such was the obedienc…

You forget, you misguided sinners, that God was present, and saw what you plotted, that God is omniscient, and knows what you intended, that he is the righteous judge of all the world, and will bring the secret things of darkness to light, and make known the hidden counsels of t…

So does the murmurer when a part of his estate is taken away; our murmuring is the Devil's music; this is that sin which God cannot bear. How long shall I bear with this people that murmur against me (Numbers 14:7)? It is a sin which whets the sword against a people, it is a lan…

An upright heart is a whole heart; the full stream of the affections runs out after God. A sincere heart follows God fully (Numbers 14:24). Third characteristic: a sincere heart is willing to come under trial.

But God in making children prepares and sanctifies them for this privilege; he changes their disposition, he smooths the ruggedness of their nature; he makes them not only sons but saints. They are of another spirit (Numbers 14:24). They become meek and humble; they are partaker…

Those whose sins are punished in others have such an interest in them that their being so punished is itself a punishment to themselves. Therefore such sinners are threatened with the punishment and evils that shall come upon their posterity or children for their sakes, which is…

I answer in general, Godliness is the sacred impression, and workmanship of God in a man, whereby of carnal he is made spiritual. When Godliness is wrought in a person, he does not receive a new soul, but he has another spirit, Numbers 14. 24. The faculties are not new, but the…

He would soon sink the Ship of Church and State, but that some of his Elect are in it: Yet such is the indiscretion of men as to injure the Saints, and to count them burdens which are the chief blessings. 6. The godly are of a brave Heroic spirit, Numbers 14:24. My servant Caleb…

Unbelief kept Moses and Aaron out of the promised land (Numbers 20:12), and the prince from tasting of the plenty (2 Kings 7, last verse). All the distempers and disquietness you meet with in this world, springs from unbelief; look but back to all the murmurings of your soul, an…

Therefore we shall find men's unbelief in Scripture has risen partly from apprehension of power in those whom they fear, and partly from apprehension of impotency in those whom they should trust. When the Israelites heard of giants and sons of [reconstructed: Anak] in the promis…

In ordinary esteem when an enemy is daily irritated, and yet comes not to revenge his quarrel, we account it impotency and unpreparedness, but in God his patience is his power. When the people of Israel murmured upon the report of giants in the land, and would have made a captai…