But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
The verse stands in Israel's confession of sin, made after suffering for sin when the people acknowledged that God had dealt justly with them. The surrounding account names intermarriage with other nations as evidence of that sin and says it corrupted the Hebrew language. It means that Israel and their fathers acted proudly, hardened their necks, and refused to listen to God's commandments and plain requirements. In doing so they resisted His authority and His correction.
Their refusal sprang from rebellious wills and evil passions opposed to obedience. It showed great ingratitude for God's goodness, for they forgot His wonders and refused to walk in obedience. They even appointed a captain to return to bondage and made the molten calf.
This pride followed great mercies, for Christ as Redeemer, Protector, and wonder-working God led and protected them in the wilderness enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. He divided the sea and destroyed their persecutors, and led them by cloud and fire. He came down on Mount Sinai and spoke from heaven, giving right judgments and true laws with good statutes and commandments. He made known the holy Sabbath through Moses, gave bread from heaven for hunger and water from the rock for thirst, sustained them forty years without lack, and promised possession of the land He swore to give.
Their miracles and wonders did not save them because they were unwilling to obey His will and walk in obedience to it. Their turning from God was part of the sin that separated them from Him, so He allowed them to come under the control of heathen nations and to suffer for their sins. After that suffering the people pledged to obey His law.
Though richly favored they had failed like Seventh-day Adventists to appreciate God's gifts and give Him due glory. Yet God did not forsake them altogether and heaven stood ready to support His work. The same rebellious spirit appeared in their children, who when He came in person did not have the love of God in them.
The verse warns people given great light and wonderful opportunities today to be careful not to do as Israel did, for many are now taking sides. It is a representation to be presented to the people as occasion requires, standing boldly in defense of the truth. That truth will otherwise be perverted more and more into strong representations of evil unless there is decided reformation among those in positions of influence.
The verse stands in Israel's confession of sin, made after suffering for sin when the people acknowledged that God had dealt justly with them. The surrounding account names intermarriage with other nations as evidence of that sin and says it corrupted the Hebrew language. It means that Israel and their fathers acted proudly, hardened their necks, and refused to listen to God's commandments and plain requirements. In doing so they resisted His authority and His correction.
Their refusal sprang from rebellious wills and evil passions opposed to obedience. It showed great ingratitude for God's goodness, for they forgot His wonders and refused to walk in obedience. They even appointed a captain to return to bondage and made the molten calf.
This pride followed great mercies, for Christ as Redeemer, Protector, and wonder-working God led and protected them in the wilderness enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. He divided the sea and destroyed their persecutors, and led them by cloud and fire. He came down on Mount Sinai and spoke from heaven, giving right judgments and true laws with good statutes and commandments. He made known the holy Sabbath through Moses, gave bread from heaven for hunger and water from the rock for thirst, sustained them forty years without lack, and promised possession of the land He swore to give.
Their miracles and wonders did not save them because they were unwilling to obey His will and walk in obedience to it. Their turning from God was part of the sin that separated them from Him, so He allowed them to come under the control of heathen nations and to suffer for their sins. After that suffering the people pledged to obey His law.
Though richly favored they had failed like Seventh-day Adventists to appreciate God's gifts and give Him due glory. Yet God did not forsake them altogether and heaven stood ready to support His work. The same rebellious spirit appeared in their children, who when He came in person did not have the love of God in them.
The verse warns people given great light and wonderful opportunities today to be careful not to do as Israel did, for many are now taking sides. It is a representation to be presented to the people as occasion requires, standing boldly in defense of the truth. That truth will otherwise be perverted more and more into strong representations of evil unless there is decided reformation among those in positions of influence.