Numbers 14:0 - With God On Our Side We Are In The Majority

I. THE CONDITIONS ON WHICH WE MAY EXPECT GOD TO BE WITH US .

1 . The unmerited good pleasure of God. "If the Lord delight in us." This is repeatedly mentioned as the origin of God's favour to the Israelites ( Deuteronomy 4:37 ; Deuteronomy 7:7 , Deuteronomy 7:8 , &c.;) and to Christians ( Ephesians 1:3-6 ; 2 Timothy 1:9 , &c.;). Only provided that this good pleasure is not forfeited by obstinate disobedience or distrust. So that the second condition is—

2 . Obedience. "Only rebel not," &c.; That generation sinned away the favour of God, though it could not annul his faithfulness.

3 . Confidence in God. "Neither fear ye the people." To fear them was to distrust God ( Isaiah 8:13 , Isaiah 8:14 ; Hebrews 13:6 , &c.;).

II. THE CERTAIN SUCCESS OF THOSE WHO ENJOY THE HELP OF GOD . Caleb and Joshua express their confidence in various ways; e.g; in Numbers 13:30 (" veni, vidi, vici" ) ; Numbers 13:8 , "he will bring us in;" Numbers 13:9 , "bread for us," &c.; The Canaanites dwelt in fortresses, but God, their strength, was departed from them. Israel dwelt in tents, but Proverbs 18:10 . Such confidence we may have, when opposed by foes, human or diabolical, however numerous or powerful. With God on our side we are in the majority (Illus. Exodus 14:13 ; 2 Kings 6:16 : 2 Chronicles 14:11 ; 2 Chronicles 20:12 ; 2 Chronicles 32:7 , 2 Chronicles 32:8 ; Psalms 46:11 ; Romans 8:31 , &c.;). A good illustration may be found in a letter of the Prince of Orange after the fall of Haarlem, in which he says, "Before ever I took up the cause of the oppressed Christians in these provinces I had entered into a close alliance with the King of kings," &c.; (Motley's ‘Rise of the Dutch Republic,' Part 3. Proverbs 9:1-18 ).—P.