Numbers 10:29-32 And Moses said to Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying to the place of which the LORD said… I. As A CERTAIN SCRIPTURAL DUTY. Every reasonable person, conscious of accountability to God, will seriously inquire, What is the duty enjoined upon me by my Creator, my Redeemer, and my Judge? To the Bible we therefore appeal, while considering the subject of fellowship with Christ's followers. 1. That it is our duty fully to unite with Christians is evident from the Scriptural representations of the followers of Christ. Among the instructive representations which clearly imply their union is that of a house or building (1 Corinthians 3:9, 11). In a building, the foundation and the other various necessary parts are united, in order to form a useful edifice: and Christians are built upon Christ, and united to each other, "as lively stones, built up a spiritual house" (1 Peter 2:5). Christ's followers are next set forth as a household, a united family. They are designated "the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10), "the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19), and "the house of God," in which Paul taught Timothy "how to behave" (1 Timothy 3:15). Christians are also represented as "one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Romans 12:5). They "'are the body of Christ, and members in particular" (1 Corinthians 12:27). 2. The certain duty of full union with Christians is clearly taught by the Scriptural history of Christ's followers. It is evident from this record that when persons received Christ as their Saviour they embraced His people as their people. They gave themselves first to Him, and then to His followers according to His will (2 Corinthians 8:5). When Saul of Tarsus was converted, he appears to have thought joining the united Christians as certainly his duty, as trusting in Christ their Saviour. "He not only preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus," but on coming to Jerusalem, where there was a Christian Society, he at once "essayed to join himself to the disciples," who were afraid to receive him, until Barnabas testified that he had become a Christian. This narrated conduct of inspired men clearly teaches that Christian fellowship ought to be sought and manifested by all professing Christians. 3. The Scriptural obligations of Christ's followers certainly imply the public union of those who bear His name. (1) Our solemn obligation to confess Christ before men cannot be fully discharged unless we are publicly identified with His disciples, and thus share His reproach and His honour, His pain and His pleasure. (2) The obligations which we owe to ourselves cannot be fulfilled without union with Christ's followers. The blessings of salvation are freely offered in the gospel; but experience and observation assure us that they can neither be fully obtained, nor long retained, without fellowship with those who would assist us to secure their enjoyment. And even where a most promising state of grace has been manifested, if persons have "forsaken the assembling of themselves together" in Christian communion, the blooming work has been blasted, the heavenly offspring has been destroyed, and the hopes of the Church have been painfully disappointed. Numerous facts, doubtless, caused Mr. Whitefield to remark: — "My brother Wesley acted wisely. The souls that were awakened under his ministry he joined in class, and thus preserved the fruits of his labour. This I neglected, and my people are a rope of sand."(3) The obligations which Christians owe to each other cannot be observed without" the fellowship of which we speak. Christ's disciples are required to have the same care one for another (1 Corinthians 12:25); to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15, 16); to bear each other's burdens (Galatians 6:2); to walk in love as Christ has loved them (Ephesians 5:2); to be like-minded (Philippians 2:2); to teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16). How is it possible, without public, intimate, and frequent fellowship, to discharge these enjoined, mutual duties? (4) The obligations which Christians owe to the world cannot be performed without our public union. How can true Christian ministers be raised, and called, and sent forth by means of Christian Churches, unless such Churches are formed? If Christians really stand forth as Christ's chosen witnesses, and go forth as His servants to claim and save the world, they must unite for the accomplishment of these objects. II. HIGHLY ADVANTAGEOUS. 1. This union raises us to fellowship with the best of society. 2. Public union with Christ's followers would prove a powerful preservative from sin. 3. The union of which we speak would furnish you with a most desirable sphere of usefulness. This powerful motive was presented to Hobab when Moses showed the individual assistance which he might afford for the general good (ver. 31). Every rightly-disposed person will not live to please or serve himself merely; but, seeking God's honour, and using his influence for the benefit of his generation, will hail with gladness the facilities for increased usefulness which may be presented in connection with Christ's active followers. 4. Christian union would entitle you to an interest in the special prayers of Christ and His followers. 5. Communion with Christians will be attended with a share in Christ's most gracious regard. We do not say that this Christian union will ensure heaven; but we do affirm that if you truly trust in Christ, and are united in His name, you will have such an interest in His regard as no individual who neglects thus to profess Him can Scripturally claim. Christ is not only round about His united Churches, but the glory in the midst of them (Zechariah 2:6; Psalm 46:5; Isaiah 12:6). They are, and ever will be, favoured with His most gracious presence. III. EARNESTLY INVITE YOU TO FULL FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST'S FOLLOWERS. "Come thou with us, and we will do thee good." 1. Abandon forbidden fellowship with sinners. These will soon perish in their sins. Separate yourself, therefore, from them, that you perish not in their company (Numbers 16:26). 2. Let all sin, as well as the company of sinners, be forsaken. Be not an Achan in the camp, nor a Simon in a Christian society; but let your hands be clean, and your heart right in the sight of God. Thus guard against substituting a religious profession for inward and outward holiness. 3. As God's unworthy servants, and relying upon His promised grace, we engage to do you good. How many in that glorious multitude have received good in our connection? 4. This invitation is given, and this promise is made, personally. "Come thou with us, and we will do thee good." We invite yea who are more learned than most persons, having enjoyed superior advantages. Be to others what Hobab was to Israel, "instead of eyes." You who are not so learned as others, but whose attainments are painfully limited, we do not despise, Be not proudly ashamed because you are not so well informed, and so able to speak, as many with whom you are invited to unite. To you who are rich, and increased in earthly goods, we say, Come with us, and we will do you good. Perhaps you are tempted to look upon the poor in our societies, and then around you in the circle of respectable worldly persons who are your equals, and your natural heart may suggest, "I cannot associate and be one with those poor persons, and thus sink in public estimation, and sacrifice opportunities of still rising in society." Before you yield to such suggestions, remember Him who was surrounded by heaven's highest inhabitants, and receiving their loudest praises; yet He stooped, and for your sake became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). From the poor in this world we turn not away, but offer you the right hand of fellowship. You have no place among the children of rich men, but you may have a place among God's children. To the aged, pained by the past, and dreading the future, we respectfully say, "Come thou with us, and we will do thee good." Oh, that you had come sooner, that you might have done good as well as received good! But come now. End your days in the Christian fold. Finish life with Christians and as a Christian. With one accord our language is, "We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord hath said, I will give it you." The inheritance is sufficient for all. It is offered to all. Part of our company have entered that better country, and are now before the throne. With this fixed purpose to "travel to the mount of God" ourselves, and with the prospect of there joining the general assembly and Church of the first-born, whom shall we pass and leave behind to perish? (Wright Shovelton.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. |
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