Those who do not trust God, continually vex themselves. The sorrow of the world worketh
death. The Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron, and in them reproached the Lord. They
look back with causeless discontent. See the madness of unbridled passions, which makes men
prodigal of what nature accounts most dear, life itself. They wish rather to die criminals under
God's justice, than to live conquerors in his favour. At last they resolve, that, instead of going
forward to Canaan, they would go back to Egypt. Those who walk not in God's counsels, seek their
own ruin. Could they expect that God's cloud would lead them, or his manna attend them? Suppose
the difficulties of conquering Canaan were as they imagined, those of returning to Egypt were much
greater. We complain of our place and lot, and we would change; but is there any place or condition
in this world, that has not something in it to make us uneasy, if we are disposed to be so? The way
to better our condition, is to get our spirits in a better frame. See the folly of turning from the ways
of God. But men run on the certain fatal consequences of a sinful course.
Verses 5–10
Moses and Aaron were astonished to see a people throw away their own mercies. Caleb and
Joshua assured the people of the goodness of the land. They made nothing of the difficulties in the
way of their gaining it. If men were convinced of the desirableness of the gains of religion, they
would not stick at the services of it. Though the Canaanites dwell in walled cities, their defence
was departed from them. The other spies took notice of their strength, but these of their wickedness.
No people can be safe, when they have provoked God to leave them. Though Israel dwell in tents,
they are fortified. While we have the presence of God with us, we need not fear the most powerful
force against us. Sinners are ruined by their own rebellion. But those who, like Caleb and Joshua,
faithfully expose themselves for God, are sure to be taken under his special protection, and shall
be hid from the rage of men, either under heaven or in heaven. (Nu 14:11-19)
Verses 11–19
Moses made humble intercession for Israel. Herein he was a type of Christ, who prayed for
those that despitefully used him. The pardon of a nation's sin, is the turning away the nation's
punishment; and for that Moses is here so earnest. Moses argued that, consistently with God's
character, in his abundant mercies, he could forgive them.
Verses 20–35
The Lord granted the prayer of Moses so far as not at once to destroy the congregation. But
disbelief of the promise forbids the benefit. Those who despise the pleasant land shall be shut out
of it. The promise of God should be fulfilled to their children. They wished to die in the wilderness;
God made their sin their ruin, took them at their word, and their carcases fell in the wilderness.
They were made to groan under the burden of their own sin, which was too heavy for them to bear.
Ye shall know my breach of promise, both the causes of it, that it is procured by your sin, for God
never leaves any till they first leave him; and the consequences of it, that will produce your ruin.
But your little ones, now under twenty years old, which ye, in your unbelief, said should be a prey,
them will I bring in. God will let them know that he can put a difference between the guilty and