Lessons from the Experience of the Children of Israel
227
living in this age of the world, those upon whom the ends of the world
are come. We do not consider that our dangers are any less than those
of the Hebrews, but greater.—
Testimonies for the Church 3:358
.
God’s Dealing with Israel
1174. God in mercy called them out from the Egyptians, that they
might worship him without hindrance or restraint. He wrought for
them in the way by miracles, he proved and tried them by bringing
them into strait places. After the wonderful dealings of God with
them, and their deliverance so many times, they murmured when tried
or proved by him. Their language was, “Would to God we had died
by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt.” They lusted for the
leeks and onions there.... Said the angel, “Ye have done worse than
they.”—
Testimonies for the Church 1:128
.
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The Influence of Flesh Food upon Mind and Body
1175. How frequently ancient Israel rebelled, and how often they
were visited with judgments, and thousands slain, because they would
not heed the commands of God who had chosen them! The Israel
of God in these last days are in constant danger of mingling with
the world, and losing all signs of being the chosen people of God....
Shall we provoke him as did ancient Israel? Shall we bring his wrath
upon us by departing from him, and mingling with the world and
following the abominations of the nations around us? ... The same
injunctions that rested upon ancient Israel rest upon God’s people now,
to be separate from the world. The great Head of the church has not
changed. The experience of Christians in these days is much like
the travels of ancient Israel. Please read
1 Corinthians 10
, especially
from the
6th to the 15th verse
: “Now these things were our examples,
to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The
people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.... Neither let us
tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of
serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and
were destroyed of the destroyer.”—
Testimonies for the Church 1:283
.