patriarchs and prophets-第83节

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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

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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

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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　become　the　exclusive
recipients　of　His　blessings；　but　in　order　to　reveal　Himself　through　them　to
all　the　inhabitants　of　the　earth。　It　was　for　the　accomplishment　of　this　very
purpose　that　He　commanded　them　to　keep　themselves　distinct　from　the
idolatrous　nations　around　them。

Idolatry　and　all　the　sins　that　followed　in　its　train　were　abhorrent　to　God；
and　He　commanded　His　people　not　to　mingle　with　other　nations；　to　〃do　after
their　works；〃　and　forget　God。　He　forbade　their　marriage　with　idolaters；　lest
their　hearts　should　be　led　away　from　Him。　It　was　just　as　necessary　then　as
it　is　now　that　God's　people　should　be　pure；　〃unspotted　from　the　world。〃　They
must　keep　themselves　free　from　its　spirit；　because　it　is　opposed　to　truth
and　righteousness。　But　God　did　not　intend　that　His　people；　in　self…righteous
exclusiveness；　should　shut　themselves　away　from　the　world；　so　that　they
could　have　no　influence　upon　it。

Like　their　Master；　the　followers　of　Christ　in　every　age　were　to　be　the　light
of　the　world。　The　Saviour　said；　〃A　city　that　is　set　on

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an　hill　cannot　be　hid。　Neither　do　men　light　a　candle；　and　put　it　under　a
bushel；　but　on　a　candlestick；　and　it　giveth　light　unto　all　that　are　in　the
house〃that　is；　in　the　world。　And　He　adds；　〃Let　your　light　so　shine　before
men；　that　they　may　see　your　good　works；　and　glorify　your　Father　which　is　in
heaven。〃　Matthew　5：14…16。　This　is　just　what　Enoch；　and　Noah；　Abraham；
Joseph；　and　Moses　did。　It　is　just　what　God　designed　that　His　people　Israel
should　do。

It　was　their　own　evil　heart　of　unbelief；　controlled　by　Satan；　that　led　them
to　hide　their　light；　instead　of　shedding　it　upon　surrounding　peoples；　it　was
that　same　bigoted　spirit　that　caused　them　either　to　follow　the　iniquitous
practices　of　the　heathen　or　to　shut　themselves　away　in　proud　exclusiveness；
as　if　God's　love　and　care　were　over　them　alone。

As　the　Bible　presents　two　laws；　one　changeless　and　eternal；　the　other
provisional　and　temporary；　so　there　are　two　covenants。　The　covenant　of　grace
was　first　made　with　man　in　Eden；　when　after　the　Fall　there　was　given　a
divine　promise　that　the　seed　of　the　woman　should　bruise　the　serpent's　head。
To　all　men　this　covenant　offered　pardon　and　the　assisting　grace　of　God　for
future　obedience　through　faith　in　Christ。　It　also　promised　them　eternal　life
on　condition　of　fidelity　to　God's　law。　Thus　the　patriarchs　received　the　hope
of　salvation。

This　same　covenant　was　renewed　to　Abraham　in　the　promise；　〃In　thy　seed　shall
all　the　nations　of　the　earth　be　blessed。〃　Genesis　22：18。　This　promise
pointed　to　Christ。　So　Abraham　understood　it　（see　Galatians　3：8；　16）；　and　he
trusted　in　Christ　for　the　forgiveness　of　sins。　It　was　this　faith　that　was
accounted　unto　him　for　righteousness。　The　covenant　with　Abraham　also
maintained　the　authority　of　God's　law。　The　Lord　appeared　unto　Abraham；　and
said；　〃I　am　the　Almighty　God；　walk　before　Me；　and　be　thou　perfect。〃　Genesis
17：1。　The　testimony　of　God　concerning　His　faithful　servant　was；　〃Abraham
obe