Law of God
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right-doing. But the effects of a sinful life are often inherited by
the children. They follow in the footsteps of their parents. Sinful
example has its influence from father to son to the third and fourth
generation. If parents indulge in depraved appetites, they will in almost
every case see the same acted over in their children. The children
will develop characters similar to their parents’; and unless they are
renewed by grace, and overcome, they are truly unfortunate. If parents
are continually rebellious, and inclined to disobey God, their children
will generally imitate their example. Godly parents, who instruct their
children by precept and example in the ways of righteousness, will
generally see their children following in their footsteps. The example
of God-fearing parents will be imitated by their children, and their
children’s children will imitate the right example their parents have
set before them, and thus the influence is seen from generation to
generation.
As the Lord impressed upon the heart of Moses a clear sense of
his goodness, his mercy and compassion, he was filled with transports
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of joy, which led him to worship God with profound reverence. He
entreated that the Lord would pardon the iniquity of his people, and
take them for his inheritance. Then God graciously promised Moses
that he would make a covenant before all Israel to do great things for
his people, and that he would evidence to all nations his special care
and love for them.
God then charged Moses to make no covenant with the inhabitants
of the land whither they should go, lest they should be insnared thereby.
But they should destroy their idol altars, break their images, and cut
down their groves, which were dedicated to their idols, and where the
people assembled to hold their idolatrous feasts, given in honor of
their idol gods. He then said to them, “Thou shalt worship no other
god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” God
claims, as his due, supreme worship. He gave special directions in
regard to his Sabbath. “Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh
day thou shalt rest. In earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.” The
Lord knows that Satan is continually at work to lead his people to
transgress the law of God, and he condescended to be very definite
in his directions to his erring people, that they might not err, and
transgress his commandments for want of knowledge. He knew that in
the busiest season of the year, when their fruits and grains were to be
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