Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 14:17

17 And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my LORD be great , according as thou hast spoken, saying,

(i. e.) Appear to be great, discover its greatness. A real verb put for a declarative, or the thing for the manifestation of the thing. And this may be understood either 1. of Gods power in preserving the people and carrying them on into Canaan, which sence may seem to be favoured by the foregoing verse, where the Egyptians deny that God had power to do so. And according to that sence he addes the following words, not as an explication of this power, but [illegible: 1 word] an argument to move him to shew forth his power f[illegible: 1+ letters]r his people notwithstanding their [illegible: 1 word], according [illegible: 1+ letters]s, or rather [illegible: 1 word] (as the Hebrew word is oft rendred) he had spoken sa[illegible: 1+ letters]ing, &c. and so he should maintain the honour and the truth of his own name or of those titles which he had ascribed to himself. Or 2. the power of his grace and mercy, or the greatness of his mercy, as he calls it, ver. 19. in pardoning of this and their other sins: for to this the following words manifestly restrain it, according as thou hast spoken, &c. where the pardon of their sins is the onely instance of▪ this power both described in God titles, ver. 18. and prayed for by Moses, ver. 19. pardon, I beseech thee, &c. and granted by God in answer to him, ver. 20. I have pardoned, &c. Nor is it strange that the pardon of sin, especially of such great sins, be spoken of as an act of power in God, because undoubtedly it is an act of omnipotent, and infinite goodness; whence desparing sinners sometimes cry out that, their sins are greater than God can pardon, as some translate Cains words, Gen. 4. 13. And since power is applied to Gods wrath in punishing sin, Rom. 9. 22. why may it not as well be attributed to Gods mercy in forgiving it? Especially if it be considered that even in men revenge is an act of impotency, and consequently it must needs be an act of power to conquer their passions and inclinations to revenge and to pardon those enemies whom they could destroy.