The Vineyard of the Lord
It was for the purpose of bringing the best gifts of Heaven to all
the peoples of earth that God called Abraham out from his idolatrous
kindred and bade him dwell in the land of Canaan. “I will make of
thee a great nation,” He said, “and I will bless thee, and make thy name
great; and thou shalt be a blessing.”
Genesis 12:2
. It was a high honor
to which Abraham was called—that of being the father of the people
who for centuries were to be the guardians and preservers of the truth
of God to the world, the people through whom all the nations of the
earth should be blessed in the advent of the promised Messiah.
Men had well-nigh lost the knowledge of the true God. Their
minds were darkened by idolatry. For the divine statutes, which are
“holy, and just, and good” (
Romans 7:12
), men were endeavoring to
substitute laws in harmony with the purposes of their own cruel, selfish
hearts. Yet God in His mercy did not blot them out of existence. He
purposed to give them opportunity for becoming acquainted with Him
[16]
through His church. He designed that the principles revealed through
His people should be the means of restoring the moral image of God
in man.
God’s law must be exalted, His authority maintained; and to the
house of Israel was given this great and noble work. God separated
them from the world, that He might commit to them a sacred trust.
He made them the depositaries of His law, and He purposed through
them to preserve among men the knowledge of Himself. Thus the light
of heaven was to shine out to a world enshrouded in darkness, and a
voice was to be heard appealing to all peoples to turn from idolatry to
serve the living God.
“With great power, and with a mighty hand,” God brought His
chosen people out of the land of Egypt.
Exodus 32:11
. “He sent
Moses His servant; and Aaron whom He had chosen. They showed
His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.” “He rebuked
the Red Sea also, and it was dried up: so He led them through the
depths.”
Psalm 105:26, 27
;
106:9
. He rescued them from their servile
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