Chapter 24—“Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge”
God’s favor toward Israel had always been conditional on their obe-
dience. At the foot of Sinai they had entered into covenant relationship
with Him as His “peculiar treasure... above all people.” Solemnly they
had promised to follow in the path of obedience. “All that the Lord
hath spoken we will do,” they had said.
Exodus 19:5, 8
. And when, a
few days afterward, God’s law was spoken from Sinai, and additional
instruction in the form of statutes and judgments was communicated
through Moses, the Israelites with one voice had again promised, “All
the words which the Lord hath said will we do.” At the ratification of
the covenant, the people had once more united in declaring, “All that
the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient,”
Exodus 24:3, 7
. God
had chosen Israel as His people, and they had chosen Him as their
King.
Near the close of the wilderness wandering the conditions of the
covenant had been repeated. At Baalpeor, on the very borders of the
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Promised Land, where many fell a prey to subtle temptation, those who
remained faithful renewed their vows of allegiance. Through Moses
they were warned against the temptations that would assail them in
the future; and they were earnestly exhorted to remain separate from
the surrounding nations and to worship God alone.
“Now therefore hearken,” Moses had instructed Israel, “unto the
statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them,
that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God
of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I
command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may
keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command
you.... Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your
understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these
statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding
people.”
Deuteronomy 4:1-6
.
The Israelites had been specially charged not to lose sight of the
commandments of God, in obedience to which they would find strength
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