The human heart is naturally inclined to idolatry and self-exaltation. The costly and beautiful monuments of heathen worship would please the fancy and engage the senses, and thus allure the Israelites from the service of God. It was to remove this temptation from His people that the Lord commanded them to destroy those relics of idolatry, on penalty of being themselves abhorred and accursed of God (The Signs of the Times, April 21, 1881).{2BC 996.5}

Menneskehjertet er naturligt tilbøjeligt til afgudstilbedelse og selvophøjelse. Hedningedyrkelsens kostbare og smukke monumenter vil behage fantasien og aktivere sanserne, og derved lokke israelitterne fra at tjene Gud. Det var for at fjerne denne fristelse fra Sit folk at Herren befalede dem at udslette disse afgudsmonumenter, under dødsstraf at de selv blev afskyet og anklaget af Gud (ST 21. april, 1881).