Paran joined to the border of Canaan on the south. And from hence it was but a stage more, had Israel gone the direct road, to the promised land. Reader! our distance from the LORD is made greater, like Israel's, by sin. Isaiah 59:2
REFLECTIONS
WHAT an interesting character is Moses, and in how charming a light doth he appear in this Chapter! To all the unprovoked unkindness of his brother Aaron, to whom he had been so friendly, we find he made no unkind return, but recompensed the cruelty both of Aaron and Miriam with his prayers. But here again, my soul, as in a thousand other instances, pass over the contemplation of creature-excellencies, to behold the unequalled loveliness of Creator-love, and mercy, manifested to thy ingratitude in the person of the LORD JESUS. Oh! thou holy Redeemer! how dost thou unceasingly intercede at the right hand of power, for me, and for all thy unworthy ungrateful people; who in the very moment that thy blood, and righteousness, is pleading for our salvation, are causing thee to serve with our sins, and wearying thee with our iniquities. SON of GOD! compassionate the leprosy of my soul, and shut me not out from thy presence, but say to me, as thou didst to the poor creature in the gospel, who cried out, LORD! if thou wilt; thou canst make me clean; I will be thou clean; and immediately my soul will be cleansed!
Reader! do not close this Chapter without having an eye in the intercession of Moses for Aaron and Miriam, to the intercession of JESUS on the cross, for those who crucified him. Oh! what a volume is folded up in that one prayer of JESUS to comfort poor sinners, and to show the all-prevailing efficacy of JESUS'S advocacy. FATHER! forgive them for they know not what they do. Oh! LAMB of GOD! let this first cry of thine upon the cross, be the first and last of my soul-reviving consolations under all the discouragements by reason of my unworthiness and neglect of thee. Surely, dear LORD! when I sin against thee, I know not what do.