Of the children of Israel we read: “Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. And I gave them My statutes, and showed them My judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. Moreover also I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them. But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness: they walked not in My statutes, and they despised My judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and My Sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out My fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. {9T 233.4}

Vi læser om Israels børn: »Så førte jeg dem ud af Ægypten og bragte dem ud i ørkenen; og jeg gav dem mine anordninger og kundgjorde dem mine lovbud; det menneske, som gør efter dem, skal leve ved dem. Også mine sabbater gav jeg dem, for at de skulde være et tegn mellem mig og dem, at det skal kendes, at jeg, Herren, er den, som helliger dem. Men (234) Israels hus var genstridigt imod mig i ørkenen; de vandrede ikke efter mine anordninger, men lod hånt om mine lovbud - det menneske, som gør efter dem, skal leve ved dem og mine sabbater vanhelligede de groft. Så tænkte jeg på at udøse min vrede over dem i ørkenen og tilintetgøre dem.