Bible Commentaries

Sacrifice Without Obedience

Numbers 23:4

Balaam wished to serve his own ends, and yet, if possible, to please God. He has prepared seven altars, etc.; will not God be appeased and accept his service, and be won over to his side? This is the kind of attempt that many people make.

I. Perfect Orthodoxy in place of Humble Christian Graces.—Balaam is particular as to the number. The number seven, sacred and complete. Nothing has been omitted. But might we not say that the very elaborateness and completeness are suspicious and dangerous? So much thought expended on the tithing of mint and cummin left little for the weightier matters of the law; designedly turned itself away from these weightier matters. There is always a danger of proud, conceited orthodoxy and scrupulous ceremonial.

II. Great Efforts in place of Constant Dutifulness.—The seven bullocks and rams rather than the daily offering of devoted service. But the Christian life is a walk, not an occasional race or flight. Every day brings its new duty, every relation of life has its own claims. Wait continually on Christ, and ask, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"

III. A Complacent Looking Back upon the Past.—"I have prepared seven altars and have offered," etc I was converted at such a time. Are they always the best Christians who are sure of the very date of their conversion? It is doubtful. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, or a bad tree good fruit. Let not the Christian rest on past services, however great, that he may have rendered to Christ and his fellow-men. The question is not, How many and how high altars have you reared in the past, and how many and how noble victims have you laid upon them? but, What offerings of love and service are you now ready to bring to Him Who gave His life for you?

References.—XXIII:10.—A. G. Mortimer, Studies in Holy Scripture, p71; see also Lenten Preaching, p159. Morgan Dix, Sermons Doctrinal and Practical, p1. H. J. Wilmot-Buxton, Sunday Lessons for Daily Life, p358. C. Parsons Reichel, Sermons, p27. Henry Alford, Quebec Chapel Sermons, vol. iii. p218. Barlow, Rays from the Sun of Righteousness, p213. T. M"Crie, Sermons, p235. Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xiii. No746. XXIII:10; XXXI:8.—A. Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture— Numbers 23:23

To every age our Father who is in heaven, and to whom all times are alike, proportions the evidence and the Divine helps to the needs and circumstances of His children. The one thing perpetually to remember is this, that in all cases, and in all circumstances, and in all times, the walk must be by faith and not by sight.

I. The particular application of this principle which I ask you to consider, is in looking round on the world in which we are moving to see the influence and the power of our spiritual and invisible King. The actual effect of the faith of Christ about us is the evidence which is the most immediate support of our own belief. Still greater weight has the evidence of our own conscience. And here it is that I wish particularly that we should remind ourselves of the rule that while we may justly expect a reasonable confirmation of our hopes from the signs of the hand of God about us, we have no right to look for demonstration. It is because they look for demonstration that so many are disappointed. The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Many thoughtful men who have not grasped this principle weary and vex themselves if they find any movement or tendency or practice or fact amongst a people nominally Christian which is contrary to the teaching of our King. And Numbers 23:23

This was John Wesley's text when he laid the foundation-stone of City Road Chapel, London, in1777.

References.—XXIII:23.—P. H. Hall, The Brotherhood of man, p37. XXIII:26-27.—Marcus Dods, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xlvi1894 , p10. XXIV:5.—J. M. Neale, Sermons Preached in Sackville College Chapel, vol. iv. p218.