patriarchs and prophets-第93章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a scepter swayed by no human hand； and the stately goings forth of Israel's
invisible King were unspeakably grand and awful。
In all these revelations of the divine presence the glory of God was
manifested through Christ。 Not alone at the Saviour's advent； but through
all the ages after the Fall and the promise of redemption； 〃God was in
Christ； reconciling the world unto Himself。〃 2 Corinthians 5：19。 Christ was
the foundation and center of the sacrificial system in both the patriarchal
and the Jewish age。 Since the sin of our first parents there has been no
direct communication between God and man。 The Father has given the world
into the hands of Christ； that through His mediatorial work He may redeem
man and vindicate the authority and holiness of the law of God。 All the
communion between heaven and the fallen race has been through Christ。 It was
the Son of God that gave to our first parents the promise of redemption。 It
was He who revealed Himself to the patriarchs。 Adam； Noah； Abraham； Isaac；
Jacob； and Moses understood the gospel。 They looked for salvation through
man's Substitute and Surety。 These holy men of old held communion with the
Saviour who was to come to our world in human flesh； and some of them talked
with Christ and heavenly angels face to face。
Christ was not only the leader of the Hebrews in the wildernessthe Angel
in whom was the name of Jehovah； and who； veiled in the cloudy pillar； went
before the hostbut it was He who gave the law to Israel。＇SEE APPENDIX；
NOTE 7。＇ Amid the awful glory of Sinai； Christ declared in the hearing of
all the people the ten precepts of His Father's law。 It was He who gave to
Moses the law engraved upon the tables of stone。
It was Christ that spoke to His people through the prophets。 The apostle
Peter； writing to the Christian church； says that the
367
prophets 〃prophesied of the grace that should come unto you： searching what；
or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify；
when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that
should follow。〃 1 Peter 1：10； 11。 It is the voice of Christ that speaks to
us through the Old Testament。 〃The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of
prophecy。〃 Revelation 19：10。
In His teachings while personally among men Jesus directed the minds of the
people to the Old Testament。 He said to the Jews； 〃Ye search the Scriptures；
because ye think that in them ye have eternal life； and these are they which
bear witness of Me。〃 John 5：39； R。V。 At this time the books of the Old
Testament were the only part of the Bible in existence。 Again the Son of God
declared； 〃They have Moses and the prophets； let them hear them。〃 And He
added； 〃If they hear not Moses and the prophets； neither will they be
persuaded； though one rose from the dead。〃 Luke 16：29； 31。
The ceremonial law was given by Christ。 Even after it was no longer to be
observed； Paul presented it before the Jews in its true position and value；
showing its place in the plan of redemption and its relation to the work of
Christ； and the great apostle pronounces this law glorious； worthy of its
divine Originator。 The solemn service of the sanctuary typified the grand
truths that were to be revealed through successive generations。 The cloud of
incense ascending with the prayers of Israel represents His righteousness
that alone can make the sinner's prayer acceptable to God； the bleeding
victim on the altar of sacrifice testified of a Redeemer to come； and from
the holy of holies the visible token of the divine Presence shone forth。
Thus through age after age of darkness and apostasy faith was kept alive in
the hearts of men until the time came for the advent of the promised
Messiah。
Jesus was the light of His peoplethe Light of the worldbefore He came to
earth in the form of humanity。 The first gleam of light that pierced the
gloom in which sin had wrapped the world； came from Christ。 And from Him has
come every ray of heaven's brightness that has fallen upon the inhabitants
of the earth。 In the plan of redemption Christ is the Alpha and the
Omegathe First and the Last。
Since the Saviour shed His blood for the remission of sins； and ascended to
heaven 〃to appear in the presence of God for
368
us〃 （Hebrews 9：24）； light has been streaming from the cross of Calvary and
from the holy places of the sanctuary above。 But the clearer light granted
us should not cause us to despise that which in earlier times was received
through the types pointing to the coming Saviour。 The gospel of Christ sheds
light upon the Jewish economy and gives significance to the ceremonial law。
As new truths are revealed； and that which has been known from the beginning
is brought into clearer light； the character and purposes of God are made
manifest in His dealings with His chosen people。 Every additional ray of
light that we receive gives us a clearer understanding of the plan of
redemption； which is the working out of the divine will in the salvation of
man。 We see new beauty and force in the inspired word； and we study its
pages with a deeper and more absorbing interest。
The opinion is held by many that God placed a separating wall between the
Hebrews and the outside world； that His care and love； withdrawn to a great
extent from the rest of mankind； were centered upon Israel。 But God did not
design that His people should build up a wall of partition between
themselves and their fellow men。 The heart of Infinite Love was reaching out
toward all the inhabitants of the earth。 Though they had rejected Him； He
was constantly seeking to reveal Himself to them and make them partakers of
His love and grace。 His blessing was granted to the chosen people； that they
might bless others。
God called Abraham； and prospered and honored him； and the patriarch's
fidelity was a light to the people in all the countries of his sojourn。
Abraham did not shut himself away from the people around him。 He maintained
friendly relations with the kings of the surrounding nations； by some of
whom he was treated with great respect； and his integrity and unselfishness；
his valor and benevolence； were representing the character of God。 In
Mesopotamia； in Canaan； in Egypt； and even to the inhabitants of Sodom； the
God of heaven was revealed through His representative。
So to the people of Egypt and of all the nations connected with that
powerful kingdom； God manifested Himself through Joseph。 Why did the Lord
choose to exalt Joseph so highly among the Egyptians？ He might have provided
some other way for the accomplishment of His purposes toward the children of
Jacob； but He desired to make Joseph a light； and He placed him in the
369
palace of the king； that the heavenly illumination might extend far and
near。 By his wisdom and justice； by the purity and benevolence of his daily
life； by his devotion to the interests of the peopleand that people a
nation of idolatersJoseph was a representative of Christ。 In their
benefactor； to whom all Egypt turned with gratitude and praise； that heathen
people were to behold the love of their Creator and Redeemer。 So in Moses
also God placed a light beside the throne of the earth's greatest kingdom；
that all who would； might learn of the true and living God。 And all this
light was given to the Egyptians before the hand of God was stretched out
over them in judgments。
In the deliverance of Israel from Egypt a knowledge of the power of God
spread far and wide。 The warlike people of the stronghold of Jericho
trembled。 〃As soon as we had heard these things；〃 said Rahab； 〃our hearts
did melt； neither did there remain any more courage in any man； because of
you： for Jehovah your God； He is God in heaven above； and in earth beneath。〃
Joshua 2：11。 Centuries after the exodus the priests of the Philistines
reminded their people of the plagues of Egypt； and warned them against
resisting the God of Israel。
God called Israel； and blessed and exalted them； not that by obedience to
His law they alone might receive His favor and
