Coming of a Deliverer
447
During the centuries immediately preceding the Flood, success
had attended Satan’s efforts to bring about a worldwide prevalence
of rebellion against God. And even the lessons of the Deluge were
not long held in remembrance. With artful insinuations Satan again
led the children of men step by step into bold rebellion. Again he
seemed about to triumph, but God’s purpose for fallen man was not
thus to be set aside. Through the posterity of faithful Abraham, of
the line of Shem, a knowledge of Jehovah’s beneficent designs was to
be preserved for the benefit of future generations. From time to time
divinely appointed messengers of truth were to be raised up to call
attention to the meaning of the sacrificial ceremonies, and especially
to the promise of Jehovah concerning the advent of the One toward
whom all the ordinances of the sacrificial system pointed. Thus the
world was to be kept from universal apostasy.
Not without the most determined opposition was the divine purpose
carried out. In every way possible the enemy of truth and righteousness
worked to cause the descendants of Abraham to forget their high and
holy calling, and to turn aside to the worship of false gods. And often
his efforts were all but successful. For centuries preceding Christ’s
first advent, darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people.
Satan was throwing his hellish shadow athwart the pathway of men,
that he might prevent them from gaining a knowledge of God and of
the future world. Multitudes were sitting in the shadow of death. Their
[688]
only hope was for this gloom to be lifted, that God might be revealed.
With prophetic vision David, the anointed of God, had foreseen
that the coming of Christ should be “as the light of the morning, when
the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds.”
2 Samuel 23:4
. And
Hosea testified, “His going forth is prepared as the morning.”
Hosea
6:3
. Quietly and gently the daylight breaks upon the earth, dispelling
the shadow of darkness and waking the earth to life. So was the Sun
of Righteousness to arise, “with healing in His wings.”
Malachi 4:2
.
The multitudes dwelling “in the land of the shadow of death” were to
see “a great light.”
Isaiah 9:2
.
The prophet Isaiah, looking with rapture upon this glorious deliv-
erance, exclaimed: