Schoolmaster to Christ
NUMBERS CHAPTER 26
Schoolmaster to Christ
NUMBERS CHAPTER 26
Scripture Reading: Numbers 26 (KJV)
Though one of the longest chapters in Numbers, it does not call for much in the way of remark or exposition. In it we have the record of the second numbering of the people, as they were about to enter into the Promised Land. How sad to think that out of the six hundred thousand men of war who were numbered at the first, only two remain – Joshua and Caleb. All the rest lay moldering in the dust, buried beneath desert sand, all passed away. The two men of simple faith remained to have their faith rewarded. As for the men of unbelief, the inspired writer tells us "Their carcasses fell in the wilderness."
How solemn – full of instruction and admonition for us. Unbelief kept the first generation from entering Canaan, causing them to die in the wilderness. This is the fact on which the Holy Spirit basis one of the most searching warnings and exhortations to be found anywhere in the compass of God’s inspired Word. Let us hear it: "Wherefore . . . take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; while it is said, To day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, Whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard" (Heb. 3:7; 4:1, 2; KJV).
Here lies the great practical secret – the Word of God mixed with faith. What a precious mixture – the only thing that can truly profit anyone. We may hear a great deal; we may talk a great deal; we may profess a great deal, but we may rest assured that the measure of real spiritual power; power to surmount difficulties; power to overcome the world; power to get on; power to possess all that God has bestowed on us – the measure of this power is simply the measure in which God's Word is mixed with faith. That Word is forever settled in leaven; and if, by faith, it is fixed in our hearts there is a divine link connecting us with heaven and all that belongs to it. In proportion as our hearts are linked with heaven and the Christ Who is there, will we be separated from this present world and lifted above its influence. Faith takes possession of all that God has given. It enters into that within the veil; it endures as seeing Him Who is invisible; it occupies itself with the unseen and eternal, not with the seen and temporal. Men think possession is sure; faith knows nothing sure but God and His Word. Faith takes God's Word and locks it up in the innermost chamber of the heart and there it remains as hidden treasure – the only thing deserving to be called treasure. The happy possessor of this treasure is rendered thoroughly independent of the world. We may be poor regarding the riches of this perishing scene; but if we are rich in faith, we are possessors of untold wealth, "durable riches and righteousness", "the unsearchable riches of Christ."
These are not the pencillings of fancy, mere visions of the imagination. No; they are substantial verities, divine realities we may enjoy now in all their preciousness. If we will only take God at His Word, only believe and accept what He says because He says it, for this is faith, then we have the treasure that renders its possessor independent of this scene where men live only by the sight of their eyes. Men of this world speak of "the positive" and "the real," meaning what they can see and experience; in other words, the things of time and sense, the tangible, and the palpable. Except for the Word of the living God, faith knows nothing positive, nothing real.
It was the lack of faith that kept Israel out of Canaan and caused six hundred thousand carcasses to fall in the wilderness. And it is the lack of faith that keeps thousands of God's people in bondage and darkness when they should be walking in liberty and light; that keeps them in depression and gloom when they should be walking in the joy and strength of God's full salvation; that keeps them in fear of judgment when they should be walking in the hope of glory; that keeps them in doubt as to whether they will escape the sword of the destroyer in Egypt when they should be feasting on old corn in the land of Canaan.
Let us pray that God's people will consider these things in the secret of His presence and in the light of His Word. Then indeed they will better know and more fully appreciate the inheritance that faith finds in the eternal Word of God – they will more clearly apprehend the things that are freely given to us by God in the Son of His love. May the Lord send out His light and truth and lead His people into the fullness of their portion in Christ so that they may take their true place, yielding a true testimony for Him while waiting for His glorious 2nd coming.
