Numbers 16:1-40 - The God Of The Spirits Of All Flesh.

I. As PROPIETOR . "He formeth the spirit of man within him" ( Zechariah 12:1 ). The verb used is applied to a potter or a smith, and reminds us that God has modeled the human spirit, with its varied powers, according to his own ideal ( Psalms 33:15 ). Since he formed man in his own image, he is "the Father of spirits" in a sense in which he is not the Father of animals. Thus he is our Proprietor, who can say, "All souls are mine," who feels a deep interest in "the work of his own hands" ( Psalms 138:8 ), and who will use, according to his judgment, the spirits he has formed and variously endowed. See Moses' use of this truth in Numbers 27:15-17 .

II. As HEART - SEARCHER . Sin has broken into the natural relation of God to his creatures. He has to deal with them as sinners with various degrees of criminality. Hence need of discrimination which only the Creator and Searcher of hearts possesses. This truth used by Abraham ( Genesis 18:23-33 ) and by Moses and Aaron ( Numbers 27:22 ). It is only the Heart-Searcher who can righteously adjust

In this narrative we see

III. As THE SAVIOR . If God were not a Saviour there would soon be no "spirits of flesh" to be the God of ( Malachi 3:6 ). But God's salvation is for all flesh ( 2 Corinthians 5:19 ; 1 Timothy 2:6 ; 1 John 2:2 ). If God is our Saviour, then we may delight in his proprietorship of us ( Psalms 119:94 ; Psalms 116:12 ; Isaiah 43:1 ). And we can cheerfully accept any discipline which our Heart-Searcher sends ( Hebrews 12:5-10 ); for "the God of my life" is also "the God of my salvation."—P.