God brought the Israelites from Egypt, that He might establish them in the land of Canaan, a pure, holy, and happy people. In the accomplishment of this object He subjected them to a course of discipline, both for their own good and for the good of their posterity. Had they been willing to deny appetite, in obedience to His wise restrictions, feebleness and disease would have been unknown among them. Their descendants would have possessed both physical and mental strength. They would have had clear perceptions of truth and duty, keen discrimination, and sound judgment. But their unwillingness to submit to the restrictions and requirements of God, prevented them, to a great extent, from reaching the high standard which He desired them to attain, and from receiving the blessings which He was ready to bestow upon them. 379

Gud førte israelitterne ud af Ægypten for at lade dem bosætte sig i Kanaans land som et rent, helligt og lykkeligt folk. For at nå dette mål underkastede han dem en vis disciplin til gavn både for dem selv og deres efterkommere. Havde de været villige til at holde appetitten under kontrol og være lydige mod hans vise forskrifter, ville svækkelse og sygdom have været ukendt blandt dem. Deres efterkommere ville have været både fysisk og åndeligt veludrustede. De ville have haft en klar opfattelse af, hvad der var sandhed, og hvad der var deres pligt, samt en sund dømmekraft. Men deres uvillighed til at underkaste sig Guds begrænsninger og krav hindrede dem for en stor del i at nå det høje stade, som han ønskede, at de skulle nå, og i at modtage de velsignelser, han var parat til at skænke dem.