God’s purpose for His institutions today may also be read in the purpose which He sought to accomplish through the Jewish nation. Through Israel it was His design to impart rich blessings to all peoples. Through them the way was to be prepared for the diffusion of His light to the whole world. The nations of the world, through following corrupt practices, had lost a knowledge of God. Yet in His mercy God did not blot them out of existence. He purposed to give them opportunity for becoming acquainted with Him through His church. He designed that the principles revealed through His people should be the means of restoring in man the moral image of God. {6T 221.2}

Guds forsæt med hans institutioner i dag, kan han også se i det forsæt, han søgte at fuldbyrde gennem det jødiske folk. Ved Israel var det hans plan at meddele rige velsignelser til alle folk. Gennem dem var vejen forberedt til lysets udbredelse i hele verden. Ved at følge fordærvelige skikke havde folkeslagene på jorden tabt kundskaben om Gud. Men i sin barmhjertighed tilintetgjorde han dem ikke. Han fattede det forsæt at give dem en anledning til at lære ham at kende gennem sin menighed. Hans hensigt var, at de principper, der åbenbaredes gennem hans folk, skulle være midlet til at genoprette Guds moralske billede i menneskene.