Chapter 52—The Church the Light of the World The Lord called out His people Israel and separated them from the world that He might commit to them a sacred trust. He made them the depositaries of His law, and He designed, through them, to preserve among men the knowledge of Himself. Through them the light of heaven was to shine out to the dark places of the earth, and a voice was to be heard appealing to all peoples to turn from their idolatry to serve the living and true God. Had the Hebrews been true to their trust, they would have been a power in the world. God would have been their defense, and He would have exalted them above all other nations. His light and truth would have been revealed through them, and they would have stood forth under His wise and holy rule as an example of the superiority of His government over every form of idolatry. {5T 454.2}

[Herren kaldte sit folk Israel og skilte dem fra verden, for at han måtte kunne betro dem et helligt tillidshverv. Han gjorde dem til forvaltere af hans lov og det var hans hensigt gennem dem at vedligeholde kundskaben om ham blandt menneskene. Gennem dem skulle himmelens lys skinne på jordens mørke steder og en røst skulle lyde med formaning til alle folkeslag om at omvende sig fra deres afguderi for at, tjene den levende (455) og sande Gud. Havde hebræerne været tro i deres tillidshverv, ville de have været en magt i verden. Gud ville have været deres værn og han ville have ophøjet dem over alle andre folkeslag. Hans lys og sandhed ville være blevet åbenbaret gennem dem og de ville under hans vise og hellige herredømme have stået som et forbillede på hans regerings overlegenhed over enhver form for afgudsdyrkelse.