Moses and Hobab
‘*And Moses said unto Hobab the Son of Rael, the Midianite, Moses* jbtfaer-in-law. We are journeying unto the phuse of which the Lord said, I will rive it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: £or the Lora hi spoken good concerning Israel.” — NuMa x. 29.
Thb children of Israel had been nearly a year encamped in the wilderness that surrounds the rocky peaks of Mount Sinai. But now the cloud rose from off the tahemacle — the signal that God wished them to depart — and so Israel jHDepared for the march in regular order. Upon a rocky oninence, that overlooked the marshalled thousands of Israel, stood Moses and his hrother-in-law, Hobah. The heart of Moees grew mU at the sight, when he looked upon their banners floating in the wind — when he looked at the pillardoud towering over them like some tall angel beckoning them away — when he thought of God’s good words concerning Israel, and the good land to which they were hastening. He felt that his loins were girt with truth, and on his head the helmet of salvation, and in his hand the sword of the He could not bear that any he loved should leave ‘them now; and, therefore, while Hobab stood lingering, uncertain which way to go, Moses spake thus: “We are journeying toward the place of which the Lord hath said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good.”
Such are the feelings of every child of God. Whenever a soul is brought to Jesus Christ, to wash in his blood and to stand in his righteousness, he is brought to feel two things: rst That now he is journeying to a good land — his sins are blotted out — the Spirit is within him — God is his guide — heaven is before him; second He wishes all he loves to come along with him.
Doctrine. — The children of God are on a journey, and wbh all they love to come along with them.
I. This world is not the home of a Christian*
When Israel was travelling through the wildemeE^^ tYiey
88 SBMiON XII.
did not count it their home. Sometimes they came to bitter places, like Marah, where the waters were bitter; they would not rest there. Sometimes they came to sweet, refreshing places, like Elim, with its seventy palm trees and twelve wells of water; and yet they would not sit down and say: “This is my rest.” It was sweet when the manna fdl round the camp every morning, and when the water feA-. lowed them; yet it was a wilderness, and a land of drou^L and the shadow of death. We are journeying,” said Moses. So is this world to a true Ghristiaii — it is not a home. Sometimes he meets with bitter things — di8app<Hntments, losses, bereavements — and he calls the waters Maiah; for they are bitter. Sometimes, ioo, he comes to rebeAmg spots, like Ellim; yet he does not rest in them.
1. There are the sweet joys of home and of kinth when the family ring is still unbroken — when not a dudr is empty by the hearth — when not a link is wantii in die chsum — when not even a lamb is carried off from the flodc These are very pleasant and lovely to the child of Gkpd; yet he does not, he cannot, rest in them. He hears a Toiee saying: ^’ Arise, depart, this is not thy rest; for it is polluted.”
2. Christian friends are sweet to the Christian. Those that are sharers of our spiritual secrets, those who minye prayer with us before the throne, those who never forget us when within the veil — oh, there is something cheering in the very light of their kindly eye! It is an intercourse of which the world knows nothing. We have them in our heart, inasmudi as they are partakers of one grace, washed in one fduntain, filled with the same Spirit, having one heart — members one of another; yet our rest is not among these. This is a taste of heaven, but not heaven* They often disappoint us — go back and become colder, or they are taken from us before, and leave us to journey on alone.^ “We are journeying.”
3. Ordinances are sweet to the ChrisHan. They are the manna and the waters in the wildemes* — the rain that fills the pools in theVaUey of Baca. How sweet U the Sabbath mormng! The sun shines more brightly than on any other day. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord ’ -the sing of psalms, how pleasant! — the prayers, how solemn, when we stand withm the veil! — the doctoinZ how it distils like the dew! — the blessing, how full of pesce ’ — the sacraments especially, how sweet to the Christian — wells of salvation, Bethels, trysting-places with Christ ’ — what tweel &ys of pkasore, love, and eoyenanting with Jesus! Still not oar home, not our rest. (I.) Thej are defective; always something human about them to mar the sweetest ordinanoes. There is a bunch of grapes, but oh I it is not enough to satisfy. (2.) They are polluted; always some fly to nK>il the fratmt ointment; always so much sin in the minisler and in the hearer. “We are journeying unto the piaoe.”
Leant, 1. To look with a travellers eye upon the world. When a trayeller is journeying, he sees many fine estates, aad beaHtiful houses, and lawns and gardens; but he does not set his heart on them. He admires, and passes on. So must you do, dear Christians. Ye are a little flock, trayel-Hog through the wilderness. Twine not your a£Fections round any one thing here. Do not set your affections on home, or m kindred, or houses, or lands. Be like Abraham, and Inae, and Jacob, who lived in tents, declaring plainly that dy sought a better country. “If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth.” Set your a£Fections on things above, not on things of the esrdi.’’
Learn, 2. Not to mourn over the loss of Christian friends 88 those who have no hope. Some of you have lost little diildren, who died in the Lord. Some of you haye lost sear friends, who fell asleep in Jesus. Some of you have lost aged parents, who have committed their spirit into the hand of Jesus. Now, you cannot but weep; and yet, if they were in Christ, you need not. They haye got to their journey’s end, and we are on the way. A voice seems to rise from their grave, saying: “Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.” They are at rest, and “we are journeying.”
IL The Christian’s home is nearer every step. When Israel was travelling the wilderness, they came nearer to the good land every step they took. They had a long wilder* ness to pass through, still every day’s journey brought them nearer to the end. So it is with all that are in Christ Jesus. Every step is bringing them nearer to heaven. Every day they are coming nearer and nearer to glory. “Now it is lugh time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” Every sheep that is really found, and «a the shoulder of the shepherd, is coming nearer to ilie heavenly fold every day. Every floul that is carried on the wings of the eagle is flying towards the rest that remaineth. The hours fly fast; but as fitst flies that divine eagle. In running a race, every step brings you nearer to the end of it — nearer to the prize and the crown.
Question, Are you fitter for heaven every d? Ah! my dear Christians, I tremble for some of you who are on your way to glory, and yet are not turning fitter for gloiy. Oh! that you would forget the things that are behind, and reaching forth to those that are before, press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Some of you are just beginning the journey to heaven. Dear little children, wax stronger and stronger, pray more, read more, hear more, love more, do more every day. Let your sense of sin grow — like the roots of trees — <lownwards, deeper and deeper. Let your faith grow — like the branch of the vine — stronger and stronger every year. Let your peace grow — like a river — broader and broader. ‘* We are journeying.”
1. Some are wellnigh through the wilderness. Some of you are on the top of Pisgah. The time draws nigh whoi you must die. Dear aged Christians, how soon your eyes will see Him whom, having not seen, you love! How soon your heart will love Him as you wish to do! How soon you will grieve Him no more for ever! Do not be afraid, but meekly rejoice. Live more above the world; care less for its pleasures. Speak plainer to your friends, sapng ^’ Come ye with us.** Be oftener within the veil. Soon you shall be a pillar, and go no more out.
2. Unconverted. You are nearer hell every day. You, too, are journeying to the place of which God hath said: “I will give it you.” “For the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which bumeth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Oh! stop, poor sinner, stop and think. Wherever you are, and whatever you are engaged in, you are travelling thither. The most go in at the wide gate. When you are sleeping, you are posting thither. When you take a journey of pleasure, you are still advancing on that other journey. When you are laughing and talking, or in the full enjoyment of your sin, you are still hurrying on. You have never stopped since you began to live. You never stand a moment to take breath. You are nearer bell this afternoon than in the forenoon. O stop and think! ‘^ Come thou with us, and we will do thee good.”
III. This journey is the great concern of a Christian* Their journey was the great concern of Israel. They did not care much for doing anything else. They did not take to another occupation. When they came to a green spot, they did not take to the plough, to try and cultivate it. Their journey was their great concern. So it should be with those of you who are children of God. Your journey to heaven should be your great concern. Dear friends, judge of everything in this way — whether it will help you on in your journey or no. In choosing a profession, or trade, choose it with regard to this — Will it advance or hinder your heavenward journey? Will it lead you into lore temptations, or into wicked company? Oh! take heed. What is the use of living, but only to get on in our journey to heaven? Choose your abode with regard to this. Christian servants, choose your place with regard to this. Remember Lot. He chose the Plain of Jordan, because it was well watered; but his soul was all but withered there. In choosing connexions or friends, O choose with regard to this — Will they help or hinder your prayers? will Aey go with you, and help you on your journey? or will they be a drag upon your wheels? In going into companies, in reading books, choose with regard to this — Will they fill your sails for heaven? If not, go not near them. In yielding to your affections, especially if you find them hindering your journey, drop them instantly. Never mind the consequences. “If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to be cast into hell fire.” “Wherefore, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.”
IV. All true Christians wish others to journey along with them: “Come thou with us, and we will do thee good.” So it was with Moses. Hobab had been his friend for forty years, in the land of Midian, where Moses married his sister, and lived in his father Raguel’s house. In that time, I doubt not, Moses had told him much of Israel’s God and Israel’s coming giory. Many a time, while tl^Le
ff SERMON Xtl.
fed dieir flocks in this jerj wilderness, Moses had naaoMd widi him of righteousness, temperance and judgment Is come, till Hobab trembled. StUl it would seem HoUb was not quite convinced. He doubted — he lingered. He had been awed by the terrors of Sinai, but not won by the loye of Calvary. He did not know whether to go or stay. But the hour of decision came. He must decide now. Now was the heart of Moses stirred in him: Comt thou with us, and we will do thee good; for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.” So it was with Paul, when he himself had tasted the joy and peace of believing; then says he: “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.” So it was with Andrew: Andrew first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him — We have found the Christ” So it was with the poor maniac whom Jesus healed: ‘^ Go home, tell thy friends how epreat things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he hath had compassion on thee.” So it was with the poor slave, in Antigua, who used to pray that there might be a full heaven and an empty hell.
QtUfsUon, Is it so with you? Have you asked your friends to come with you? Have you a &ther whom you love? — a mother that carried you at her breast? Have you a brother or a sister? Are they lingering like Hobab? Oh! will you not put in a word for Christ, and say: “Come thou with us, and we will do thee good.” Have you a firiend whom you love much — who knows nothing of Christ and of God — who is willing to die in the wilderness? Oh! will you not win him to go with you to Israel’s Qod and Israers glory?
Word to lingering souls. Some of you, like Hobab, are half persuaded to go with Israel. ‘^ Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Some of you see your children converted, and you not; and yet you are not determined to go with them. Oh! why halt ye between two opinions? Go with them now.
Observe, 1. This may be the deciding day. It was so with Hobab. God is pleading hard with you to-day. He has spoken to you by most solemn providences — by the Bible, by his ministers, and by the tender persuading voice of those you love. ‘* Come thou with us.” ‘^ Choose you this day, then, whom you will serve.” Remember this may be the deciding day: to-morrow it may be too late.
2. You will share in their Joys: ‘^ We will do thee good.”
8BBM0N XUI, 93
What makes them so anxious for jon to go witih them, if it ke not £»r your ffood? You know they love you tenderly; diey wouM not hare a hair of your head hurt. You will taste their foi]^yenes8 — their peace with Qod — their joy in ike Word and prayer; you wUl know their God; you will know their heaven. Oh! that Qod would put it into your knrt to deaye to them like Ruth to Naomi, saying: “Whither thou goest I will go; and where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall he my people, and thy God ■yOod.”
& Peter’s, JuLy 22, 1838.