Numbers 30:1-16 - The Extermination Of Sinful Lusts

I. THAT GOD HIMSELF PRESSED ON THE WAR WITH MIDIAN TO THE BITTER END , and that although there did not seem any present danger to Israel from that quarter. Even so in his holy word God ever urges us to wage an implacable war with the lusts of the flesh, and not to be content because we are not presently assailed by them, but to exterminate them wholly. Nothing is more striking than the urgency and the breadth of these exhortations. The Scripture assumes that all classes of believers (however respectable in outward life and position) have need to strive earnestly against their passions ( Galatians 5:17-24 ; Colossians 3:5 , and parallel passages). And note that subsequent events fully justified the slaughter then made of Midian ( 6:1-40 , 7:1-25 , 8:1-35 ). We have, and shall have, but too good reason to know that fleshly sins are always a formidable danger.

II. THAT MOSES MUST FINISH THE DESTRUCTION OF MIDIAN ERE HE BE CALLED TO HIS REST , AND ERE ISRAEL MAY CROSS THE JORDAN . Even so the moral law, the wrath of God against sin declared by Moses, must remain in force until sin be destroyed in our mortal members. When the lusts of the flesh are wholly mortified, then, and only then, shall there be "no law," but only grace and love and heaven close at hand ( Galatians 5:23 ; 1 Timothy 1:9 , &c.;).

III. THAT WAR WITH MIDIAN WAS COMMANDED OF GOD IN ORDER TO " AVENGE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ," BUT OF MOSES IN ORDER TO " AVENGE THE LORD ." Even so has God commanded us to strive against hurtful lusts because they "drown men in perdition" ( 1 Timothy 6:9 ), and have caused incalculable loss of those who should have had inheritance with us; but we on our part fight against these sins because they dishonour God, and destroy the souls for which Christ died. And both these motives are in effect one, and unite to make our warfare a holy war, albeit a war of vengeance, in which no mercy may be shown.

IV. THAT THE WAR WITH MIDIAN WAS DISTINCTLY ONE OF VENGEANCE FOR INJURIES INFLICTED ON THEMSELVES AND ON THE LORD . Even so in the strife of the Christian against carnal sin there is a true element of revenge, and abundant room for holy indignation, and even for sharp reprisals; albeit these are all directed against that in himself which is hateful to a man's better self and to God ( 1 Corinthians 9:27 ; 2 Corinthians 7:11 ; Romans 8:13 ).

V. THAT IF ONLY 12,000 ACTUALLY WENT TO THE WAR , ALL ISRAEL WENT BY REPRESENTATION —1000 FROM EACH TRIBE . So the conflict against sin may be in a few only conspicuous and acute, yet these only represent what is going on secretly more or less in the hearts and lives of Christian people generally. The stress of fight may fall on some, but all are called to fight.

VI. THAT TO THIS WAR ISRAEL WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE PRIEST (Phinehas—see on Numbers 25:1-18 ), THE SACRED TRUMPETS , AND , AS IT SHOULD SEEM , THE ARK ITSELF . Even so the Christian warfare against sin is guided, sanctified, and cheered by the High Priest himself of our profession ( Hebrews 2:18 ; Hebrews 12:2 ; Revelation 3:4 , Revelation 3:5 ), and by the stirring tones of the gospel, and by the glorious mystery of the incarnation itself—God with us, the All-holy tabernacled in our flesh, Christ in us, the hope of glory hereafter and the sweet constraint unto purity now.

VII. THAT ALL THE MEN OF MIDIAN WERE SLAIN , TOGETHER WITH THEIR KINGS . Even so it is the destiny of the Church at large, and may be our individual happiness, to overthrow and destroy all hurtful lusts, however strong and active, which are in enmity with the law of God. So also their princes, "the world-rulers of this darkness," shall not stand before us, hut shall perish ( 1 Corinthians 15:25 ; Ephesians 5:27 ; Ephesians 6:12 , &c.;).

VIII. THAT THE SOLDIERS ERRED IN SPARING SUCH AS SEEMED WEAK AND HARMLESS , AND MIGHT BE SAFELY TURNED TO PROFIT . The women were in fact more dangerous than the men; the boys would become as dangerous as their fathers. Even so do we err in setting our faces strongly against certain sins which are accounted disgraceful, while we tolerate others because they seem comparatively harmless, or even profitable. This is exactly what civilization does: it puts down very thoroughly the ruder vices of mankind, but it spares the softer vices, partly because it feels no repugnance to them, partly because they actually make for wealth. But these softer vices are even more fatal to morality, because more insidious and more fascinating; and these sins which seem to add to the general wealth are preparing a disastrous future for the nation. The moral law of the gospel bids us wage an equal war with all sins without exception, and takes no account whether they are offensive or inoffensive, hateful or pleasant, to the natural man, to public opinion, or to the sentiment of the age.

IX. THAT MOSES COMMANDED ALL TO BE SLAIN EXCEPT THE YOUNG GIRLS , WHO BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH AND INNOCENCE MIGHT SAFELY BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE HOUSEHOLDS OF ISRAEL . Even so all passions which belong to the lower and conquered nature of man must be "mortified" and exterminated, except such as can be safely and thoroughly absorbed in the sanctified life. This is the only test. Whatever natural desires can be taken up into the Christian life without remaining as a foreign element (and therefore a source of danger) within it may be spared, and ought to be welcomed, but no others. All the rest must at any cost be got rid of.

X. THAT ALL THE REST OF THE SPOIL MUST BE PURIFIED EITHER BY FIRE OR WATER , OR BOTH , BEFORE IT COULD COME INTO THE CAMP . Even so whatever is to be brought over (and it is indeed very much) from the natural life of passion into the sanctified life of grace must be purged by the cleansing virtue of the atonement, and by the baptism of the Holy Spirit (see on Matthew 3:11 ). Nothing which has been contaminated with sin can be turned to Christian uses unless it is first sanctified according to its nature. But, subject to this purifying, all that is not in itself sinful may be adapted to Christian ends, and used by Christian people.

Consider again, with respect to the booty taken—

I. THAT IT WAS VERY GREAT , AND GREATLY ENRICHED THE PEOPLE . Even so there is more spiritual gain to be made by attacking and destroying sins than by anything else. Churches and souls would never need to complain of spiritual poverty if they busied themselves in waging zealous and unsparing war against the sins within their own reach, within themselves.

II. THAT ALL SHARED IN THE SPOIL , BUT THOSE THAT WARRED HAD BY FAR THE LARGER SHARE INDIVIDUALLY . Even so it is for the profit and edification of all that sins should be successfully assailed; but those who bear the brunt of temptation and strive against sin even "unto blood" have by far the greater reward in themselves. Let this be our Christian ambition, to earn the higher prizes of "him that overcometh".

III. THAT AMONGST THE SPOIL THERE WERE A MULTITUDE OF HUMAN BEINGS , AND THESE PROBABLY THE MOST VALUABLE PART OF IT . Even so in the Christian warfare against sin there are a multitude of souls rescued from slavery, and these of priceless worth, beyond all other rewards which we could ask or think of. The girls of Midian seemed to be delivered into slavery; they were in fact delivered from a horrible slavery, and made free in the only way which was then possible. So are those souls which are brought into the service and strictness of Christ made free by the truth.

IV. THAT THE LORD 'S PORTION AND THE PORTION OF HIS MINISTERS WAS EXACTED BEFORE THE SPOIL MIGHT BE APPROPRIATED . Even so, whatever is allowed to Christian use which has belonged to a sinful world, God and his Church have a first claim upon it. It is only through the sanctifying influences of grace that Christian people can freely and safely enjoy the many comforts and luxuries and profits which else they must have forsworn. It is but right that these should first of all be willingly taxed for the glory of God among men, and for the support of all outward ministries of grace ( Luke 11:41 ).

Consider again, with regard to Balaam's death—

I. THAT HE FELL AT LAST WHERE HE HAD NO REASON TO APPREHEND DANGER . Israel had passed by these tribes of Midian, and Balaam no doubt believed that all present danger from them was over. Even so vengeance overtakes the wicked at the moment when he is least afraid, and when justice seems to have forgotten him.

II. THAT HE FELL BY THE SWORD OF ISRAEL , i.e; BY THE HAND OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN THE VICTIMS OF HIS GUILE . Even so it is a just thing with God that evil men and seducers should receive their punishment through those whom they have wronged.

III. THAT BALAAM , THE ENCHANTER AND TEMPTER OF ISRAEL , FELL WITHOUT A STRUGGLE WHEN THE PRINCES OF MIDIAN HAD BEEN SLAIN . Even so the tempter himself the arch-enemy of souls, will (as far as we are concerned) come utterly to an end as soon as we have overcome the allurements to sin which he uses against us ( Romans 16:20 ).

Consider again, with regard to the offering of the officers—

I. THAT NOT ONE HAD FALLEN IN THE RANKS OF ISRAEL —a thing clearly beyond expectation in any ordinary expedition. Even so there is no reason why any should fall or fail in the warfare against fleshly lusts. For the promise of victory is not to all in general, or to the Church at large only, but to each soul in particular that will earnestly strive. And victory over sin implies eternal life ( Ezekiel 18:23 ; Amos 9:9 ; Micah 7:8 ; Malachi 3:17 ; 1 Corinthians 10:13 , &c.;).

II. THAT THE OFFICERS FELT THAT THIS IMMUNITY WAS DUE TO THE SPECIAL PROVIDENCE OF GOD . Even so that we escape from sin and death, that we come unhurt through so many perils to the soul, is not of our strength, but of God's assistance, and to him all the glory is due ( Isaiah 40:29 ; 2 Corinthians 12:9 ; Philippians 4:13 ; 2 Timothy 4:17 , 2 Timothy 4:18 , &c.;).

III. THAT THEY OWED A GREAT DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO GOD FOR THE PRESERVATION ' OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN COMMITTED TO THEIR CHARGE (literally, "in their hand "). Even so we ought to feel and to show great gratitude to God for the spiritual safety of such as are put in our charge, whether as children or otherwise. According to our responsibility for them, and our sorrow if they were lost, so should be our thankfulness if the good hand of God be upon them to keep them in the way of life ( Philippians 1:3 :1Th Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:3 , &c.;).

IV. THAT THEY SHOWED THEIR GRATITUDE BY THE SPECIAL DEDICATION TO GOD 'S SERVICE OF THOSE PRECIOUS THINGS WITH WHICH THAT WARFARE HAD ENRICHED THEM . Even so when we and ours come unscathed out of the temptations of the world and of the flesh, we may well dedicate to God in some special way all the costly gifts of knowledge, of sympathy, of spiritual power and freedom which come of temptation and trial bravely overcome.

And note that the numbering of the men who had been to the war, and the offering of the golden spoil, may be interpreted of the last day.

1 . That not one true soldier of Christ shall be missing then ( John 10:28 , John 10:29 ; Philippians 1:6 ; Revelation 7:3 , Revelation 7:4 compared with Revelation 14:1 ).

2 . That all the precious gifts yielded by human life amid strife and danger shall be brought into the holy city of God, to the glory of God ( Revelation 21:24 , Revelation 21:26 ).

3 . That every one that overcometh shall be the better and the richer for his warfare against sin (see Numbers 31:53 ).