patriarchs and prophets-第83章
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reflected the glory of the divine Presence； unknown to himself his face
shown with a dazzling light when he descended from the mountain。 Such a
light illumined the countenance of Stephen when brought before his judges；
〃and all that sat in the council； looking steadfastly on him； saw his face
as it had been the face of an angel。〃 Acts 6：15。 Aaron as well as the people
shrank away from Moses； and 〃they were afraid to come nigh him。〃 Seeing
their confusion and terror； but ignorant of the cause； he urged them to come
near。 He held out to them the pledge of God's reconciliation； and assured
them of His restored favor。 They perceived in his voice nothing but love and
entreaty； and at last one ventured to approach him。 Too awed to speak； he
silently pointed to the countenance of Moses； and then toward
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heaven。 The great leader understood his meaning。 In their conscious guilt；
feeling themselves still under the divine displeasure； they could not endure
the heavenly light； which； had they been obedient to God； would have filled
them with joy。 There is fear in guilt。 The soul that is free from sin will
not wish to hide from the light of heaven。
Moses had much to communicate to them； and compassionating their fear； he
put a veil upon his face； and continued to do so thereafter whenever he
returned to the camp from communion with God。
By this brightness God designed to impress upon Israel the sacred； exalted
character of His law； and the glory of the gospel revealed through Christ。
While Moses was in the mount； God presented to him； not only the tables of
the law； but also the plan of salvation。 He saw that the sacrifice of Christ
was pre…figured by all the types and symbols of the Jewish age； and it was
the heavenly light streaming from Calvary； no less than the glory of the law
of God； that shed such a radiance upon the face of Moses。 That divine
illumination symbolized the glory of the dispensation of which Moses was the
visible mediator； a representative of the one true Intercessor。
The glory reflected in the countenance of Moses illustrates the blessings to
be received by God's commandment…keeping people through the mediation of
Christ。 It testifies that the closer our communion with God； and the clearer
our knowledge of His requirements； the more fully shall we be conformed to
the divine image； and the more readily do we become partakers of the divine
nature。
Moses was a type of Christ。 As Israel's intercessor veiled his countenance；
because the people could not endure to look upon its glory； so Christ； the
divine Mediator； veiled His divinity with humanity when He came to earth。
Had He come clothed with the brightness of heaven； he could not have found
access to men in their sinful state。 They could not have endured the glory
of His presence。 Therefore He humbled Himself； and was made 〃in the likeness
of sinful flesh （Romans 8：3）； that He might reach the fallen race； and lift
them up。
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Chapter 29
Satan's Enmity Against the Law
The very first effort of Satan to overthrow God's lawundertaken among the
sinless inhabitants of heavenseemed for a time to be crowned with success。
A vast number of the angels were seduced； but Satan's apparent triumph
resulted in defeat and loss； separation from God； and banishment from
heaven。
When the conflict was renewed upon the earth； Satan again won a seeming
advantage。 By transgression； man became his captive； and man's kingdom also
was betrayed into the hands of the archrebel。 Now the way seemed open for
Satan to establish an independent kingdom； and to defy the authority of God
and His Son。 But the plan of salvation made it possible for man again to be
brought into harmony with God； and to render obedience to His law； and for
both man and the earth to be finally redeemed from the power of the wicked
one。
Again Satan was defeated； and again he restored to deception； in the hope of
converting his defeat into a victory。 To stir up rebellion in the fallen
race； he now represented God as unjust in having permitted man to transgress
His law。 〃Why；〃 said the artful tempter； 〃when God knew what would be the
result； did He permit man to be placed on trial； to sin； and bring in misery
and death？〃 And the children of Adam； forgetful of the long…suffering mercy
that had granted man another trial； regardless of the amazing； the awful
sacrifice which his rebellion had cost the King of heaven； gave ear to the
tempter； and murmured against the only Being who could save them from the
destructive power of Satan。
There are thousands today echoing the same rebellious complaint against God。
They do not see that to deprive man of the freedom of choice would be to rob
him of his prerogative as an intelligent being； and make him a mere
automaton。 It is not God's purpose to coerce the will。 Man was created a
free moral
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agent。 Like the inhabitants of all other worlds； he must be subjected to the
test of obedience； but he is never brought into such a position that
yielding to evil becomes a matter of necessity。 No temptation or trial is
permitted to come to him which he is unable to resist。 God made such ample
provision that man need never have been defeated in the conflict with Satan。
As men increased upon the earth； almost the whole world joined the ranks of
rebellion。 Once more Satan seemed to have gained the victory。 But omnipotent
power again cut short the working of iniquity； and the earth was cleansed by
the Flood from its moral pollution。
Says the prophet； 〃When Thy judgments are in the earth； the inhabitants of
the world will learn righteousness。 Let favor be showed to the wicked； yet
will he not learn righteousness； 。 。 。 and will not behold the majesty of
Jehovah。〃 Isaiah 26：9； 10。 Thus it was after the Flood。 Released from His
judgments； the inhabitants of the earth again rebelled against the Lord。
Twice God's covenant and His statutes had been rejected by the world。 Both
the people before the Flood and the descendants of Noah cast off the divine
authority。 Then God entered into covenant with Abraham； and took to Himself
a people to become the depositaries of His law。 To seduce and destroy this
people； Satan began at once to lay his snares。 The children of Jacob were
tempted to contract marriages with the heathen and to worship their idols。
But Joseph was faithful to God； and his fidelity was a constant testimony to
the true faith。 It was to quench this light that Satan worked through the
envy of Joseph's brothers to cause him to be sold as a slave in a heathen
land。 God overruled events； however； so that the knowledge of Himself should
be given to the people of Egypt。 Both in the house of Potiphar and in the
prison Joseph received an education and training that； with the fear of God；
prepared him for his high position as prime minister of the nation。 From the
palace of the Pharaohs his influence was felt throughout the land； and the
knowledge of God spread far and wide。 The Israelites in Egypt also became
prosperous and wealthy； and such as were true to God exerted a widespread
influence。 The idolatrous priests were filled with alarm as they saw the new
religion finding favor。 Inspired by Satan with his own enmity toward the God
of heaven； they set themselves to quench the light。 To the priests was
committed
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the education of the heir to the throne； and it was this spirit of
determined opposition to God and zeal for idolatry that molded the character
of the future monarch； and led to cruelty and oppression toward the Hebrews。
During the forty years after the flight of Moses from Egypt； idolatry seemed
to have conquered。 Year by year the hopes of the Israelites grew fainter。
Both king and people exulted in their power； and mocked the God of Israel。
This grew until it culminated in the Pharaoh who was confronted by Moses。
When the Hebrew leader came before the king with a message from 〃Jehovah；
God of Israel；〃 it was not ignorance of the true God；
