4. Separation Led to Presumptuous, Foolhardy Madness—The professed people of God had separated from God, and had lost their wisdom and perverted their understanding. They could not see afar off; for they had forgotten that they had been purged from their old sins. They moved restlessly and uncertainly under darkness, seeking to obliterate from their minds the memory of the freedom, assurance, and happiness of their former estate. They plunged into all kinds of presumptuous, foolhardy madness, placed themselves in opposition to the providences of God, and deepened the guilt that was already upon them. They listened to the charges of Satan against the divine character, and represented God as devoid of mercy and forgiveness. The prophet writes of them, saying:{4BC 1137.4}

4. Adskillelse fører til formastelig og tåbelig vanvid.--Guds bekendende folk havde adskilt sig fra Gud, og havde mistet deres visdom og fordrejet deres forståelse. De kunne ikke se på lang afstand; for de havde glemt at de var blevet renset fra deres gamle synder. De bevægede sig hvileløst og usikkert under mørke, og søgte at få erindringen om frihed, forvisning, og lykken i deres tidligere ejendom ud af deres tanker. De kastede sig ud i al slags formasteligheder og tåbelig vanvid, og satte sig selv i opposition mod Guds forsyn, og uddybede den skyld der allerede var kommet over dem. De lyttede til Satans anklager mod den guddommelige karakter, og fremstillede Gud som blottet for barmhjertighed og tilgivelse. Profeten skriver til dem og siger: