The lesson is for us. If the requirements of a good and wise father, who took the best and most effectual means 426 to secure his posterity against the evils of intemperance, were worthy of strict obedience, surely God's authority should be held in as much greater reverence as He is holier than man. Our Creator and our Commander, infinite in power, terrible in judgment, seeks by every means to bring men to see and repent of their sins. By the mouth of His servants He predicts the dangers of disobedience; He sounds the note of warning and faithfully reproves sin. His people are kept in prosperity only by His mercy, through the vigilant watchcare of chosen instrumentalities. He cannot uphold and guard a people who reject His counsel and despise His reproofs. For a time He may withhold His retributive judgments; yet He cannot always stay His hand.

Vi kan også lære noget heraf. Hvis det lønnede sig at vise ubetinget lydighed imod de krav, som blev stillet af en god og vis fader, som ønskede at give sine efterkommere det bedste og mest effektive værn imod umådeholdenhedens onder, bør man vise langt større ærbødighed for Guds myndighed, fordi hans hellighed er langt større end menneskets. Vor skaber og store leder, hvis magt er uendelig, og hvis domme er frygtelige, søger på enhver mulig måde at få menneskene til at indse og angre deres synder. Han lader sine tjenere kundgøre faren ved at være ulydig, lader alarmklokken lyde og revser samvittighedsfuldt synden. Det skyldes udelukkende hans nåde, at det går hans folk godt, og de værnes uophørligt af hans udvalgte redskaber. Han kan ikke bevare og vogte et folk, som forkaster hans formaninger og foragter hans irettesættelser. Han venter måske en tid med at straffe dem, men han kan ikke blive ved at holde sin hånd tilbage.