Numbers 1:3

"Handfuls of Purpose"

For All Gleaners

"Able to go forth to war." Num 1:3

Then there are difference's amongst men; some being able, and others unable to go forth to war. Forgetfulness of these differences leads to indiscriminate and cruel criticism. There is always a war in life. Sometimes a real battle is only known to the man himself. In all solitary conflicts the man himself is of course alone responsible. Even in such conflicts the warrior needs inspiration and encouragement from without. There is a solitude that leads to despair, and in the darkness of that solitude the war goes against the soul. The words of the text refer to open or public battle, in which every man is expected to appear in the fulness of his strength. The statistics of the army are kept in heaven. The spirit of this text forbids every man to look only at his weakness. Every man is called upon to make the most of himself in the presence of the enemy. Sometimes the very going forth to war develops the power of battle. Let every man take a hopeful view of his capacity. The wars to which men are called in this day may be of the nature of controversy, testimony under difficult circumstances, consistency in the midst of subtle and persistent temptation; because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, it does not follow that we have no conflict with principalities and powers and innumerable enemies out of sight. The spirit of Christianity is a spirit of war. The Christian is at war with every form and action of evil. There can be no doubt as to the side which the Christian will take in every moral conflict. The suggestion of the text is that some men are not called upon to engage in public strife. They may be soldiers, nevertheless, suffering heroically, illustrating the majesty of patience, and proving by joyful resignation how possible it is to wait without complaining, and to sing in the darkness and weariness of night. Cowardice is nowhere commended in the Bible. The distinguishing feature of Christianity in relation to all the forces of life is heroism. Let imagination picture the scene; the Christian is not afraid to go forth where ignorance is densest, where rebellion is most violent, where cruelty is most desperate, and even where infection is most contagious; the picture is always vivid with heroic colour, and expressive of consecration, which can neither be daunted or discouraged. "The Son of God goes forth to war." It is too commonly supposed that Christianity is a bed of roses, a new variety of luxury, a sentiment which, while it excuses, also aggravates the natural selfishness of the heart. Every man should put to himself the question, Why am I not at the war? Every wound that testifies to honourable battle is a sign of true soldiership. Do not be ashame of wounds and scars that tell o suffering only see that they are on the breast, and thereby indicate fearlessness, and not on the back, and thereby prove fear and faithlessness.