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Danger in Speculative Knowledge
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hand to keep it steady. For presuming to touch the symbol of God’s
presence, he was smitten with instant death.
At the burning bush, when Moses, not recognizing God’s pres-
ence, turned aside to behold the wonderful sight, the command was
given:
“Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for
the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.... And Moses hid
his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”
Exodus 3:5, 6
.
“And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night,
because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and
put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
“And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the
top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending
and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and
said,
“I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac:
the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed....
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither
thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not
leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
“And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord
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is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How
dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and
this is the gate of heaven.”
Genesis 28:10-17
.
In the sanctuary of the wilderness tabernacle and of the temple
that were the earthly symbols of God’s dwelling place, one apartment
was sacred to His presence. The veil inwrought with cherubim at
its entrance was not to be lifted by any hand save one. To lift that
veil, and intrude unbidden into the sacred mystery of the most holy
place, was death. For above the mercy seat dwelt the glory of the
Holiest—glory upon which no man might look and live. On the one
day of the year appointed for ministry in the most holy place, the
high priest with trembling entered God’s presence, while clouds of
incense veiled the glory from his sight. Throughout the courts of the
temple every sound was hushed. No priests ministered at the altars.
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The host of worshipers, bowed in silent awe, offered their petitions
for God’s mercy.