Grace of Christ and the New Covenant
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Christ. From Him has come every ray of heaven’s brightness that has
fallen upon the inhabitants of the earth.
Since the Saviour shed His blood and ascended to heaven “to
appear in the presence of God for us” (
Hebrews 9:24
), light has been
streaming from the cross of Calvary and from the sanctuary above.
The gospel of Christ gives significance to the ceremonial law. As truths
are revealed, the character and purposes of God are made manifest.
Every additional ray of light gives a clearer understanding of the plan
of redemption. We see new beauty in the inspired Word and study its
pages with more absorbing interest.
God did not design that Israel should build up a wall of partition
between themselves and their fellowmen. The heart of Infinite Love
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was reaching out toward all the inhabitants of the earth, seeking to
make them partakers of His love and grace. His blessing was granted
to the chosen people that they might bless others.
Abraham did not shut himself away from the people around him.
He maintained friendly relations with the kings of the surrounding na-
tions, and the God of heaven was revealed through His representative.
To the people of Egypt God manifested Himself through Joseph.
Why did the Lord choose to exalt Joseph so highly among the Egyp-
tians? He desired to place him in the palace of the king that the
heavenly illumination might extend far and near. Joseph was a repre-
sentative of Christ. In their benefactor the Egyptians were to behold
the love of their Creator and Redeemer. In Moses also God placed a
light beside the throne of earth’s greatest kingdom that all might learn
of the true and living God.
In the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, a knowledge of the power
of God spread far and wide. Centuries after the exodus, the priests
of the Philistines reminded their people of the plagues of Egypt and
warned them against resisting the God of Israel.
Why God Worked With Israel
God called Israel in order to reveal Himself through them to all the
inhabitants of the earth. For this purpose He commanded them to keep
themselves distinct from the idolatrous nations around them.
It was just as necessary then as it is now that God’s people be pure,
“unspotted from the world.” But God did not intend that His people