Notes on the book of NumbersMackintosh, Charles Henry
Religion
Notes on the book of Numbers
Mackintosh, Charles Henry
Bible. Numbers -- Commentaries
It was this that enabled the Gershonite in the wilderness to look after
those rough, unattractive-looking “badger-skins,” and that enabled the
Merarite to look after these apparently insignificant “pins.” Yes, and
it is this which will enable the Christian now to address himself to
that special line of service to which his Lord may see fit to call him.
What though, to human eyes, it seems rough and unattractive, mean and
insignificant; it is enough for us that our Lord has assigned us our
post and given us our work, and that our work has direct reference to
the Person and glory of Him who is the chiefest among ten thousand and
altogether lovely. We, too, may have to confine ourselves to the antitype
of the rough, unsightly badger-skin, or the insignificant pin. But let us
remember that whatever has reference to Christ—His name, His Person, His
cause—in the world, is unspeakably precious to God. It may be very small
in man’s account, but what of that? We must look at things from God’s
point of view, we must measure them by His standard, and that is, Christ.
God measures every thing by Christ. Whatever has even the very smallest
reference to Christ is interesting and important in God’s account;
whereas the most splendid undertakings, the most gigantic schemes, the
most astonishing enterprises, of the men of this world, all pass away
like the morning cloud and the early dew. Man makes _self_ his centre,
his object, his standard. He values things according to the measure in
which they exalt himself and further his interests. Even religion itself,
so called, is taken up in the same way, and made a pedestal on which to
display himself. Every thing, in short, is worked up as capital for self,
and used as a reflector to throw light upon and call attention to that
one object. Thus there is a mighty gulf between God’s thoughts and man’s
thoughts, and the shores of that gulf are as far apart as _Christ_ and
_self_. All that belongs to Christ is of eternal interest and moment: all
that belongs to self shall pass away and be forgotten. Hence, therefore,
the most fatal mistake into which any man can fall is to make _self_
his object. It must issue in everlasting disappointment. But on the
other hand, the very wisest, safest, best thing that any man can do, is
to make Christ his one absorbing object. This must infallibly issue in
everlasting blessedness and glory.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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