During the few months since Israel left Egypt, the report of their wonderful deliverance had spread to all the surrounding nations. Fear and terrible foreboding rested upon the heathen. All were watching to see what the God of Israel would do for His people. Should they now be destroyed, their enemies would triumph, and God would be dishonored. The Egyptians would claim that their accusations were true--instead of leading His people into the wilderness to sacrifice, He had caused them to be sacrificed. They would not consider the sins of Israel; the destruction of the people whom He had so signally honored, would bring reproach upon His name. How great the responsibility resting upon those whom God has highly honored, to make His name a praise in the earth! With what care should they guard against committing sin, to call down His judgments and cause His name to be reproached by the ungodly!


Patriarker og profeter kapitel 28. 160.     Fra side 319 i den engelske udgave.tilbage

Afgudsdyrkelse ved Sinaj

I de få måneder, der var gået, siden Israel forlod Ægypten, var rygtet om deres vidunderlige befrielse nået ud til alle de omboende folk. Hedningerne var fulde af frygt og bange anelser. Alle fulgte nøje med for at se, hvad Israels Gud ville gøre for sit folk. Hvis de nu blev tilintetgjort, ville deres fjender juble, og Gud ville blive vanæret. Ægypterne ville hævde, at deres beskyldninger var sande: i stedet for at lede sit folk ud i ørkenen for at ofre havde Gud ofret dem. De ville ikke tage Israels synder i betragtning. Hvis det folk, Gud så tydeligt havde æret, blev tilintetgjort, ville der blive kastet vanære over Guds navn. Når Gud skænker mennesker store æresbevisninger, forpligter han dem til at gøre sit navn til en lovprisning på jorden. Hvor bør de være forsigtige for ikke at synde og nedkalde hans straf og gøre hans navn til skamme blandt de ugudelige!

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