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Fundamentals of Christian Education
Abraham’s seed multiplied, and at length Jacob and his sons and
their families went down into Egypt. Here they and their descendants
sojourned for many years, till at last the Lord called them out, to lead
them into the land of Canaan. It was His purpose to make of this nation
of slaves a people who would reveal His character to the idolatrous
nations of the world. Had they been obedient to His word, they would
soon have entered the promised land. But they were disobedient and
rebellious, and for forty years they journeyed in the wilderness. Only
two of the adults who left Egypt entered Canaan.
It was during the wilderness wandering of the Israelites that God
gave them His law. He led them to Sinai, and there, amid scenes of
awful grandeur, proclaimed the ten commandments.
We may with profit study the record of the preparation made by the
congregation of Israel for the hearing of the law. “In the third month,
when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt,
the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were
departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had
pitched in the wilderness: and there Israel camped before the mount.
And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the
mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell
the children of Israel: Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and
how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now
therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant,
then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all
the earth is Mine.”
Who, then, is to be regarded as the Ruler of the nations?—The
Lord God Omnipotent. All kings, all rulers, all nations, are His under
His rule and government.
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“And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid
before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him.”
What was the response of the congregation, numbering more than
a million people?
“And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord
hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people
unto the Lord.”
Thus the children of Israel were denominated as a special people.
By a most solemn covenant they were pledged to be true to God.