Numbers 12:1-16 - The Lord Listening

I. AS AN ENCOURAGEMENT . As illustrations—

1 . Turn to the scene described in Malachi 3:16 . A few godly persons are trying to keep alive the flame of piety in a godless age ( Malachi 3:13-15 ). Apply to social means of grace for mutual edification.

2 . See that Christian man on a lonely walk, courteously conversing with a stranger, and seeking to recommend Christ to him. The stranger may go away to pray or to scoff, but that is not all. God hears and records the words as one of the good deeds done in the body ( 2 Corinthians 5:10 ).

3 . A godly mother in the midst of daily duties, not only praying but soliloquizing, as in Psalms 62:1 , Psalms 62:2 , Psalms 62:5-7 . Whether or not she may say Psalms 5:1 , God does "give ear," and the words are "acceptable" ( Psalms 19:14 ).

4 . Sufferers lamenting; e. g. Hagar ( Genesis 16:11 ); Ishmael ( Genesis 21:17 ); Israel in Egypt ( Exodus 2:24 ); mourners in Zion ( Isaiah 30:19 ).

II. AS A WARNING . The truth has its shady as well as its sunny side. We may apply to—

1 . The swearer's prayer, not intended for the ear of God, but reaching it.

2 . Calumnies and backbitings, e.g; against Moses ( Psalms 5:1 , Psalms 5:2 ), or other servants of God (cf. Zephaniah 2:8 ); perhaps disliked because their lives are a rebuke to others (cf. Psalms 94:4 , Psalms 94:7 , Psalms 94:8 , Psalms 94:9 ; John 15:18 ).

3 . Impure words. The youth would be ashamed all day if his mother accidentally heard. But God heard.

4 . Solitary words of repining or rebellion. Spoken in haste, they are soon regretted, and you say, "Well, at any rate nobody heard them." Stop and think again ( Numbers 11:1 ; Psalms 139:7 ). The ear of God, like his eye, is in every place." Therefore Matthew 12:37 . This truth leads us by a single step to the heart of the gospel ( Acts 20:21 ). And if we say Psalms 17:3 , God will hear that too, and give us strength to serve him with "righteous lips" and "joyful lips" ( Psalms 19:14 ).—P.