Appetite and Passion
The world had become so corrupt through indulgence of appetite
and debased passion in the days of Noah that God destroyed its inhab-
itants by the waters of the Flood. And as men again multiplied upon
the earth the indulgence in wine to intoxication perverted the senses
and prepared the way for excessive meat eating and the strengthening
of the animal passions. Men lifted themselves up against the God of
heaven; and their faculties and opportunities were devoted to glorify-
ing themselves rather than honoring their Creator. Satan found easy
access to the hearts of men. He is a diligent student of the Bible and
is much better acquainted with the prophecies than many religious
teachers. He knows that it is for his interest to keep well informed
in the revealed purposes of God, that he may defeat the plans of the
Infinite.
So infidels frequently study the Scriptures more diligently than
some who profess to be guided by them. Some of the ungodly search
the Scriptures that they may become familiar with Bible truth and
furnish themselves with arguments to make it appear that the Bible
contradicts itself. And many professed Christians are so ignorant of
[25]
the Word of God, through neglect of its study, that they are blinded
by the deceptive reasoning of those who pervert sacred truth that they
may turn souls away from the counsel of God in His Word.
Satan saw in the typical offerings an expected Redeemer who
was to ransom man from his control. He laid his plans deep, to rule
the hearts of men from generation to generation and to blind their
understanding of the prophecies, that when Jesus should come, the
people would refuse to accept Him as their Saviour.
God appointed Moses to lead out His people from their bondage
in the land of Egypt, that they might consecrate themselves to serve
Him with perfect hearts and be to Him a peculiar treasure. Moses was
their visible leader, while Christ stood at the head of the armies of
Israel, their invisible Leader. If they could have always realized this
they would not have rebelled and provoked God in the wilderness by
19