(Ecclesiastes 8:11, 12). Rejection of Light Led to Destruction of Amorites—The Amorites were inhabitants of Canaan, and the Lord had promised the land of Canaan to the Israelites; but a long interval must pass before His people should possess the land. He stated the reason why this interval must pass. He told them that the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full, and their expulsion and extermination could not be justified until they had filled up the cup of their iniquity. Idolatry and sin marked their course, but the measure of their guilt was not such that they could be devoted to destruction. In His love and pity God would let light shine upon them in more distinct rays; He would give them opportunity to behold the working of His wondrous power, that there might be no excuse for their course of evil. It is thus that God deals with the nations. Through a certain period of probation He exercises long-suffering toward nations, cities, and individuals. But when it is evident that they will not come unto Him that they might have life, judgments are visited upon them. The time came when judgment was inflicted upon the Amorites, and the time will come when all the transgressors of His law will know that God will by no means clear the guilty (The Review and Herald, May 2, 1893).{1BC 1093.5}

(Præd. 8,11, 12). Forkastelsen af lyset førte til amoritternes undergang. - Amoritterne var Kanaans indbyggere, og Herren havde udlovet landet til israelitterne; men der må gå en lang mellemtid før Hans folk kunne tage landet i besiddelse. Han fortalte grunden til at dette tidsrum måtte være der. Han fortalte dem at amoritternes uretfærdighed ikke var helt fuld endnu, og deres fordrivelse og udryddelse kunne ikke retfærdiggøres før de havde opfyldt deres vredes bæger. Afgudsdyrkelse og synd var markerende for deres handlemåde, men målet for deres skyld var ikke sådan at de overgives til udslettelse, I Sin kærlighed og medynk ville Gud lade lys skinne på dem i mere direkte stråler; han ville give dem anledning til at beskue Hans forunderlige krafts virke, så der ikke var undskyldning for deres onde handlemåde. Det er sådan at Gud behandler nationer. Gennem en vis prøveperiode, udviser han langmodighed imod folkene, byerne og enkeltpersoner. Men det er tydeligt at de ikke vil komme til Ham for at de kan få liv, så hjemsøges dommene over dem. Tidspunktet kom hvor dommene blev udøst over amoritterne, og tidspunktet vil komme hvor alle som forbryder sig på Hans lovs, vil Gud lade vide at han på ingen måde den skyldige gå fri. (Samme., 2. maj, 1893).