When God directed them to go up and take Jericho, He promised to go with them. The ark containing His law was to be a symbol of Himself. Moses and Aaron, God’s appointed leaders, were to conduct the expedition under His watchful direction. With such supervision no harm could have come to them. But now, contrary to the command of God and the solemn prohibition of their leaders, without the ark of God and without Moses, they marched out to meet the armies of the enemy. {4T 154.1}

Da Gud ledte dem op og tage Jeriko, lovede han at gå med dem. Arken med hans lov skulle være et symbol på ham selv. Moses og Aron, Guds udpegede ledere, skulle lede ekspeditionen under hans egen påpasselige ledelse. Med et sådant tilsyn kunne intet skade dem. Men nu, i modsætning til Guds befaling og deres lederes alvorlige forbud, uden Guds ark og uden Moses, marcherede de ud for at møde fjendernes hære.