Notes on the book of Numbers

Name: Notes on the book of Numbers
Author: Mackintosh, Charles Henry

Mackintosh, Charles Henry

Bible. Numbers -- Commentaries

Hence, therefore, there is something more typified in Jordan than the end
of an individual’s life in this world. We must view it as the figure of
the death of Christ, in one grand aspect; just as the Red Sea is a figure
of it in another, and the blood of the paschal lamb in another. The blood
of the lamb sheltered Israel from the judgment of God upon Egypt; the
waters of the Red Sea delivered Israel from Egypt itself and all its
power; but they had to cross the Jordan,—they had to plant the sole of
their foot upon the land of promise, and make good their place there in
spite of every foe. They had to fight for every inch of Canaan.

And what is the meaning of this latter? Have we to fight for heaven?
When a Christian falls asleep, and his spirit goes to be with Christ in
paradise, is there any question of fighting? Clearly not. What, then, are
we to learn from the crossing of Jordan and the wars of Canaan? Simply
this: Jesus has died. He has passed away out of this world. He has not
only died for our sins, but He has broken every link which connected us
with this world; so that we are dead to the world as well as dead to
sin and dead to the law. We have, in God’s sight, and in the judgment
of faith, as little to do with this world as a man lying dead on the
floor. We are called to reckon ourselves dead to it all, and alive to
God through Jesus Christ our Lord. We live in the power of the new life
which we possess in union with Christ risen. We belong to heaven; and
it is in making good our position as heavenly men that we have to fight
with wicked spirits in the heavenlies—in the very sphere which belongs to
us, and from which they have not yet been expelled. If we are satisfied
to “walk as men”—to live as those who belong to this world—to stop short
of Jordan, if we are satisfied to live as “dwellers upon the earth,” if
we do not aim at our proper heavenly portion and position, then we shall
not know aught of the conflict of Ephesians vi. 12. It is seeking to live
as heavenly men now, on the earth, that we shall enter into the meaning
of that conflict which is the antitype of Israel’s wars in Canaan. We
shall not have to fight when we get to heaven; but if we want to live
a heavenly life on the earth, if we seek to carry ourselves as those
who are dead to the world and alive in Him who went down into Jordan’s
cold flood for us, then, assuredly, we must fight. Satan will leave no
stone unturned to hinder our living in the power of our heavenly life;
and hence the conflict. He will seek to make us walk as those who have
an earthly standing, to be citizens of this world, to contend for our
rights, to maintain our rank and dignity, to give the lie, practically,
to that great foundation Christian truth that we are dead and risen with
and in Christ.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Notes on the book of NumbersMackintosh, Charles Henry

Religion

Notes on the book of Numbers

Mackintosh, Charles Henry

Bible. Numbers -- Commentaries

Hence, therefore, there is something more typified in Jordan than the end
of an individual’s life in this world. We must view it as the figure of
the death of Christ, in one grand aspect; just as the Red Sea is a figure
of it in another, and the blood of the paschal lamb in another. The blood
of the lamb sheltered Israel from the judgment of God upon Egypt; the
waters of the Red Sea delivered Israel from Egypt itself and all its
power; but they had to cross the Jordan,—they had to plant the sole of
their foot upon the land of promise, and make good their place there in
spite of every foe. They had to fight for every inch of Canaan.

And what is the meaning of this latter? Have we to fight for heaven?
When a Christian falls asleep, and his spirit goes to be with Christ in
paradise, is there any question of fighting? Clearly not. What, then, are
we to learn from the crossing of Jordan and the wars of Canaan? Simply
this: Jesus has died. He has passed away out of this world. He has not
only died for our sins, but He has broken every link which connected us
with this world; so that we are dead to the world as well as dead to
sin and dead to the law. We have, in God’s sight, and in the judgment
of faith, as little to do with this world as a man lying dead on the
floor. We are called to reckon ourselves dead to it all, and alive to
God through Jesus Christ our Lord. We live in the power of the new life
which we possess in union with Christ risen. We belong to heaven; and
it is in making good our position as heavenly men that we have to fight
with wicked spirits in the heavenlies—in the very sphere which belongs to
us, and from which they have not yet been expelled. If we are satisfied
to “walk as men”—to live as those who belong to this world—to stop short
of Jordan, if we are satisfied to live as “dwellers upon the earth,” if
we do not aim at our proper heavenly portion and position, then we shall
not know aught of the conflict of Ephesians vi. 12. It is seeking to live
as heavenly men now, on the earth, that we shall enter into the meaning
of that conflict which is the antitype of Israel’s wars in Canaan. We
shall not have to fight when we get to heaven; but if we want to live
a heavenly life on the earth, if we seek to carry ourselves as those
who are dead to the world and alive in Him who went down into Jordan’s
cold flood for us, then, assuredly, we must fight. Satan will leave no
stone unturned to hinder our living in the power of our heavenly life;
and hence the conflict. He will seek to make us walk as those who have
an earthly standing, to be citizens of this world, to contend for our
rights, to maintain our rank and dignity, to give the lie, practically,
to that great foundation Christian truth that we are dead and risen with
and in Christ.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Notes on the book of Numbers

Notes on the book of Numbers

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