Diseases of Ancient Egypt and the Toll of Fashionable Living

The diseases of Egypt and the heathen nations were the natural fruit of their rejection of God's law and their indulgence in corrupt practicesCOL 285.2+1. While the Egyptians and surrounding idolatrous peoples suffered under the weight of physical, mental, and moral degradation, the Lord promised to protect His people from these very "evil diseases" on the condition of their obedience14LtMs, Ms 134, 1899, par. 20+1.

The Egyptians had become a proud nation, but their luxury and disregard for God made them slaves to their own appetite and uncontrolled passions13LtMs, Ms 38, 1898, par. 17. Because of their persistent resistance to the divine command and their cruel oppression of Israel, the Lord visited them with a series of increasingly severe judgments, including painful boils that afflicted even their boasted magiciansPP 273.2+2. These plagues were not merely punishments but were designed to reveal the sovereignty of the true God over the senseless idols of the heathenPP 259.2+2.

The heathen nations surrounding Israel were characterized by violence, greed, and the most corrupt practices, which resulted in widespread iniquity and miseryCOL 285.2. These peoples were led by perverted conceptions of divine attributes to practice horrible cruelties, such as human sacrifices and passing their children through fire, believing these acts were necessary to appease their deitiesPP 337.3+1. Such apostasy and the centering of thoughts on the "fleshpots of Egypt" fostered a state of disease and moral darkness that God desired to heal in His own people by restoring them to a pure, healthy diet and a life of holinessRH June 11, 1914, par. 1+1.

God's purpose in bringing Israel out of bondage was to establish them as a healthy and sound nation whose physical and mental strength would be a testimony to the world11LtMs, Lt 103, 1896, par. 30+1. He sought to remove the "feverish diet" they had subsisted on in Egypt and replace it with "angels' food," promising that if they kept His statutes, He would take away all sickness and put none of the evil diseases of Egypt upon them14LtMs, Ms 134, 1899, par. 20+1. The health and prosperity of Israel were intended to constrain the surrounding heathen nations to glorify the God of Israel25LtMs, Ms 69, 1912, par. 8.

...them in the land of Canaan, a pure, holy, and happy people. In the accomplishment of this object He subjected them to a course of discipline, both for their own good and for the good of their posterity. Had they been willing to deny appetite, in obedience to His wise restrictions, feebleness and disease would have been unknown among them. Their descendants would have possessed both physical and mental strength. They would have had clea...— 11LtMs, Lt 103, 1896, par. 30

...shalt be blessed above all people. ... And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.” Deuteronomy 7:6-8, 11, 12, 14, 15.— 18LtMs, Ms 64, 1903, par. 5

...; food.” Psalm 78:25. Yet they were not satisfied. In Egypt their taste had become perverted. God designed to restore their appetite to a pure, healthy state, in order that they might enjoy the simple fruits that were given to Adam and Eve in Eden. He was about to establish them in a second Eden, a goodly land, where they might enjoy the fruits and grains that He would provide for them. He purposed to remove the feverish diet upon which they had subsisted in Egypt; for He wished them to be in perfect health and soundness when they entered the goodly land to which He was leading them, so that the surrounding heathen nations might be constrained to glorify the God of Israel, the God who had done so wonderful a work for His people. Unless the people who acknowledged Him as...— 25LtMs, Ms 69, 1912, par. 8 (1910)

...ence and crime, greed, oppression, and the most corrupt practices, were indulged without restraint. Iniquity, degradation, and misery were the fruits of the corrupt tree. In marked contrast was to be the fruit borne on the vine of God's planting— COL 285.2 (1900)

...en nations were led to believe human sacrifices necessary to secure the favor of their deities; and the most horrible cruelties have been perpetrated under the various forms of idolatry. Among these was the practice of causing their children to pass through the fire before their idols...— PP 337.3 (1890)

The specific diseases of the heathen nations mentioned in the history of Egypt and surrounding idolatrous peoples included virulent plagues, painful venomous stings, and the "evil diseases" of Egypt which were the direct result of their corrupt practices and disregard for God's laws1MR 105.2+1. These conditions stood in stark contrast to the health and vitality God intended for His people through obedience19MR 39.2+1.

The Plagues and Afflictions of Egypt 🇪🇬

The Lord executed judgment upon Egypt with specific physical calamities that demonstrated His supremacy over their idols Exodus 12:12SR 115.2.

• Venomous Stings: One of the plagues involved swarms of large, venomous flies that brought painful stings upon both man and beast throughout the coasts of Egypt3SG 243.2.

• The Pestilence: The Lord threatened and executed a "dreadful death" through various judgments, including a pestilence that targeted the life of the kingdom Exodus 14:12PP 271.5+1.

• Evil Diseases of Egypt: The Lord specifically referred to the "evil diseases of Egypt" as a category of affliction that the Israelites were familiar with during their time in bondage Deuteronomy 7:151MR 105.2.

• Respiratory Distress: During the plague of darkness, the atmosphere became so oppressive that breathing was difficult for the Egyptians, though the Hebrews enjoyed a pure atmosphere3SG 243.2.

The Role of Diet and Habits 🍎

The health of the heathen nations was compromised by their lifestyle and dietary choices, which led to widespread physical decayCCh 228.3+1.

• Disease from Flesh Meats: The "fleshpots of Egypt" and the use of animal food were identified as sources of disease and deathCCh 228.3+1.

• Narcotics and Alcohol: Heathen nations were often characterized by the use of "soul-destroying narcotics" and "defiling and health-destroying drugs" which degraded the people below the level of the brute creationKC 48.4.

• Indulgence and Degradation: The appetite and passions of the heathen, stimulated by stimulating drinks and tobacco, dragged them down to a state of degradation and miseryKC 48.4+1.

The Fruit of Idolatry 🪴

The physical suffering of these nations was the inevitable harvest of their spiritual and moral conditionCOL 285.2.

• Iniquity and Misery: Violence, crime, greed, and oppression were unrestrained among these idolatrous peoples, and misery was the natural fruit of their corrupt way of lifeCOL 285.2.

• The Burden of Sin: The practices of the heathen included "horrible cruelties" and "licentiousness," which resulted in a cup of iniquity that eventually led to their national overthrowPP 337.3+1.

• Provisions for Healing: God promised that if His people would keep His commandments, He would take away all sickness and protect them from these diseases, laying them instead upon those who hated Him Deuteronomy 7:151MR 105.2.

The use of narcotics and unnatural stimulants like tea and coffee is a positive evil that results in physical, mental, and moral decayTe 73.1+1. These substances are not foods and provide no natural strength, but instead act as poisons that irritate the stomach and excite the nervesTe 75.3+1. While they may offer a temporary feeling of vigor, they always result in a corresponding reaction that leaves the system in a worse condition than before7LtMs, Lt 19, 1892, par. 6+1.

The Physical Toll on the Body 🤒

Consuming these stimulants undermines physical vitality and creates a host of health problems7LtMs, Lt 19, 1892, par. 6+1.

• Borrowing Future Strength: Tea and coffee excite the nerves and heart, causing the system to borrow power from its future resources for present use, which inevitably leads to exhaustion and prostrationTe 75.3+1.

• Sallow Appearance: Regular users of these beverages often carry the marks on their faces; the skin becomes sallow, lifeless, and loses the glow of healthCD 420.2+1.

• Specific Afflictions: The continued use of these nerve irritants is followed by headaches, wakefulness, palpitation of the heart, indigestion, and trembling nervesTSDF 148.3+1.

• Blood and Organ Damage: These poisons contaminate the blood, irritate the stomach, and cause the liver to become morbid in its actionCD 421.4+1.

Mental and Moral Enfeeblement 🧠

The right balance of mental and moral powers depends largely on the healthy condition of the physical systemCME 38.5+1.

• Loss of Self-Control: Stimulants becloud the intellect and excite the baser passions, making it difficult for the user to resist temptation or exercise self-controlSA 102.1+1.

• Mental Feebleness: Coffee, in particular, benumbs the brain and can lead to a permanent lessening of mental activity if the habit is not overcomeTSDF 145.2+1.

• Spiritual Hindrance: These indulgences war against the soul and lower the standard of spirituality, making it impossible for the spirit of truth to sanctify a person controlled by appetiteCH 85.2+1.

• Social Evils: Under the excitement of tea and coffee, the tongue is often loosened to engage in unkind criticism, gossip, and the poison of scandalTe 79.1.

The Danger of Habit and Heritage ⛓️

The appetite for these stimulants is often as difficult to break as the habit of an inebriate for liquorCTBH 34.5+1.

• A Stepping Stone: The use of tea and coffee fosters a craving for stronger stimulants, such as tobacco and liquorCH 85.2+1.

• Inherited Tendencies: Parents who indulge in these narcotics transmit depraved appetites and passions to their children, placing a solemn responsibility upon them to counteract these evil legaciesCG 405.3+1.

• The Trap of Drugs: Those who continue evil habits while using drugs to find relief are inconsistent and dishonor God7LtMs, Lt 19, 1892, par. 6+1. Many could recover from disease without a single grain of medicine if they would simply obey the laws of health and discard stimulantsCCh 105.4+1.

A Call to Stewardship 🕊️

God requires His people to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him Nehemiah 2:1-20TSDF 148.3+1.

• Wasted Means: The money expended on tea and coffee is worse than wasted and should be devoted to spreading the truth and helping the cause of GodTe 79.1+1.

• Total Abstinence: The only safe course for those who desire to preserve their health and spiritual clarity is to touch not, taste not, and handle not these injurious substancesCCh 105.6+1.

• Healthful Alternatives: A wholesome, nutritious diet can be easily prepared using grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables without the need for tea, coffee, or flesh meatsChS 139.3+1.

The consumption of animal fats and grease is a positive evil that contaminates the blood and brings various diseases upon the human system2SM 417.4+1. Animal oil and grease are not essential for health, and their use results in the corruption of the body and the enfeeblement of the moral and spiritual naturePHJ September 1, 1905, par. 13+1.

Diseases Caused by Fat and Grease 🤒

The use of animal fats is directly linked to the development of serious physical ailments and the poisoning of the life currentMH 315.1+1.

• Blood Contamination: When human beings eat the flesh and fat of animals, their own blood and flesh become corrupted by the impurities conveyed through the animal2SM 417.4.

• Feverish Conditions: Grease and rich foods fever the blood and produce a feverish state in the systemCG 384.1+1.

• Cancer and Tumors: The practice of eating animal products is a leading cause of contracting cancers and tumorsGCDB March 2, 1897, par. 9.

• Scrofula and Tuberculosis: Using animal fats increases the risk of scrofula and tuberculosis, as the animal creation is extensively diseasedGCDB March 2, 1897, par. 9+1.

• Digestive Disorders: Foods prepared with grease or made too rich weary the stomach, debilitate the digestive organs, and cause inflammation and irritation of the stomach2T 68.2+1.

• Physical Grossness: A diet heavy in animal fats causes the entire system to become gross and corruptedSUFF 3.1.

Defilement of the Soul and Body 🛡️

The physical defilement caused by improper diet has a corresponding effect on the mind and the characterMH 315.1.

• Moral Defilement: Habits of appetite that indulge in unhealthful fats lead to moral defilement and the clouding of the brain1MCP 317.2+1.

• Strengthening Animal Passions: A diet containing animal fats strengthens the lower animal propensities and diminishes intellectual activityTSDF 28.4+1.

• Enfeebling the Will: The indulgence of perverted appetite for grease and meat makes individuals abject slaves to passion and weakens their moral powers11LtMs, Ms 53, 1896, par. 10.

• Hinderance to Sanctification: The heart cannot preserve consecration to God while animal appetites are indulged at the expense of health4SP 302.2.

• Barriers to Prayer: God cannot work in behalf of the sick through prayer when they persist in a diet that refuses to heed His instructions on health reformPH026 2.2+1.

Healthful Substitutes for Animal Fat 🫒

God has provided better ways to supply the needs of the system without the use of lard, butter, or animal oilCCh 222.7+1.

• The Benefit of Olives: Properly prepared olives provide a superior substitute for animal oil and butterCD 349.4+1.

• Healing Properties: The oil found in olives is healing to an inflamed stomach and serves as a natural laxative, proving far preferable to animal fatCD 349.4+1.

• Nutritive Properties: Grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables contain all the nutritive properties necessary to make good, pure bloodPHJ September 1, 1905, par. 13+1.

• Simplicity in Preparation: Food should be prepared in a simple, healthful manner, free from grease and spices, to ensure the vigor and cheerfulness of the home inmatesCCh 222.7+1.

The call to reform is a call to purity, for no impurity or falsehood will enter the paradise of GodPH167 42.1+1. We are urged to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Corinthians 7:1. Whether we eat or drink, we must do all to the glory of God 1 Corinthians 10:31.

Living a fashionable life is a hard, thankless, and expensive existence that weakens and destroys the physical, mental, and spiritual powersCE 168.2+2. This artificial lifestyle leads to a variety of diseases born from sedentary habits, excessive mental strain, the use of poisonous drugs, and a total disregard for the natural laws of healthCCh 105.3+2.

The Nature and Toll of Fashionable Life 👗

Fashionable society imposes a heavy burden that sacrifices health and happiness for the sake of outward displayCCh 183.3+1.

• Physical Decay: Those who follow fashion often enjoy a "delicate life," which is in reality feebleness and decayCE 21.1. The bloom of health fades, and disease fastens upon them because they are robbed of necessary physical exerciseCE 21.1.

• The Loss of Simplicity: Artificial habits and the increase of artificial display have made health, strength, beauty, and long life rare in our dayCon 58.2+1.

• Mental and Moral Feebleness: The excitements and excesses of fashionable life lead to mental and moral feebleness, often leaving the sufferer with shattered nerves and an impaired mindTSDF 84.9+2.

• Sacrifice of Principles: To keep pace with absurd fashions, many sacrifice the vigor of their intellect and the true elevation of their soulCCh 183.3.

Diseases Born of Fashionable Habits 🤒

The violation of the laws of being through fashionable living results in specific physical and spiritual ailmentsHR March 1, 1878, par. 3.

• Sedentary Diseases: Many young women regard housework as demeaning and seek indoor, sedentary employment; consequently, they suffer because they lack the physical exercise required to promote healthCE 21.1.

• Brain Overwork: The intellectual class often overworks the brain and suffers from a lack of the healthful vigor that physical labor providesCE 19.2.

• Nervous Disorders: Fashionable ruin is often characterized by shattered nerves, diseased imaginations, and even insanityHR December 1, 1871, par. 10.

• Physical Deformities: Following painful fashions, such as wearing small shoes, leads to swollen joints and deformed feetHR December 1, 1871, par. 10.

• Drug-Induced Illness: Many bring upon themselves lifelong illness by using poisonous drugs and popular "patent medicines" to treat ailments caused by their lifestyleCCh 105.3+1. These nostrums often lay the foundation for the liquor, opium, and morphine habitsCCh 105.3+1.

Spiritual Dangers and the Remedy 🌿

A life dedicated to fashion is in direct opposition to the laws of God and the spirit of self-denialHR October 1, 1871, par. 12+1.

• Separation from God: The pride of life and the love of display separate the soul from God, leading to a "barrenness of soul" and spiritual "leanness"PH098 20.1+1.

• A Door to Temptation: The desire for self-adornment is so strong that it leads some into dishonesty, theft, and even the sale of virtue to maintain a fashionable appearanceCTBH 86.1+1.

• Nature as the Physician: Outdoor life is the only medicine many invalids of fashion needCH 170.1+1. Pure air, glad sunshine, and exercise amid the beauties of nature possess a powerful influence to heal the sickness caused by fashionable lifeCH 170.1+1.

• The Call to Reform: Happiness is found by living naturally instead of artificially and by maintaining firm principles in defiance of extravagant and injurious fashionHR October 1, 1871, par. 7. We must deny self and fight against the "world's trinity"—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of lifeRH August 2, 1881, par. 13+1.

Christ has warned us against the pride of life, but points us to the modest grace and simplicity of the flowers of the field as the true standard of beautyMYP 352.4+1. We are encouraged to combined moral, intellectual, and physical culture to become well-developed and well-balanced individualsFE 42.1+1. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" Romans 12:2.

Fashionable diseases are the physical and mental penalties resulting from a lifestyle of artificial display, sedentary habits, and the violation of natural lawCH 170.1+1. This "fashionable ruin" encompasses a wide range of afflictions, from shattered nerves and impaired minds to pulmonary diseases and digestive disorders caused by unhealthful dress and dietary excesses3MR 319.1+1.

Diseases of the Mind and Nerves 🧠

The excitement and lack of balance in a fashionable life frequently lead to the breakdown of the nervous system and mental faculties.

• Mental Ruin and Insanity: An indoor life deprived of invigorating air, combined with improper habits, can utterly ruin the mind and lead to insanitySA 73.2.

• Shattered Nerves: The pursuit of fashion often results in "shattered nerves" and a diseased imagination, leaving individuals as "fashionable ruins"HR December 1, 1871, par. 10.

• Brain Enervation: Health-destroying habits common in fashionable society enervate the brain, making it impossible to discern or appreciate sacred truthCME 33.2+1.

• Moral and Mental Feebleness: Violating the laws of being through fashionable life works out physical suffering and a state of mental and moral feeblenessHR March 1, 1878, par. 3.

Physical Ailments and Deformities 🤒

The body suffers severely when natural simplicity is sacrificed for the demands of stylish display.

• Pulmonary Disease and Consumption: Many suffer from pulmonary diseases not due to inheritance, but because they neglect the open air and dress unhealthfully to meet fashionable standards3MR 319.1.

• Deformed Limbs and Joints: Following fashions like wearing small shoes leads to swollen joints and deformed feet, causing excruciating sufferingHR December 1, 1871, par. 10.

• "Fashionable Poisons": Those who live fashionably often suffer from diseases that they then attempt to treat with "fashionable poisons"—harmful drugs—leading to "fashionable deaths"2SM 462.2.

• Inward Decay and Cancer: Inflamed humors that might otherwise remain dormant can commence a destructive work, such as cancerous humor or inward decay of the head, due to the lack of vital force from an indoor lifeSA 73.2.

The Toll of Sedentary Habits 🪑

Fashionable life often regards physical labor as degrading, leading to diseases of inactionCH 182.1+1.

• Digestive and Sleep Disorders: The habit of eating late "snacks" or suppers—often common in social circles—is particularly harmful to those with sedentary habits and can begin a disease that ends in deathCG 389.5+1.

• Congestion and Apoplexy: Close confinement to indoor, sedentary life causes an undue determination of blood to the brain, which confuses the mind and puts one in danger of apoplexy6MR 122.1.

• Muscular Weakness: Inactivity causes muscles to lose their firmness and elasticity, becoming soft, weak, and diseasedFE 426.1+1.

The Influence of Dress and Environment 👗

The very homes and clothing of the fashionable are often sources of sickness.

• Poisonous Living Spaces: "Fashionable health-destroying apartments" that are kept closed to light and air to protect fine furniture become damp and poisonous, bringing on various diseases2SM 462.2.

• Compressed Organs: The fashion of compressing the waist is a health-destroying habit that interferes with the vital organs5LtMs, Ms 29, 1887, par. 30.

• Cemeteries Filled by Fashion: Fashionable mothers who clothe their children unhealthfully for display often bring them to the grave, filling cemeteries with "short graves"PH134 7.2.

The Divine Remedy 🌳

Nature is God's physician, providing the only medicine many invalids of fashion truly needCH 170.1. Outdoor life, exercise, and the pure air of the orchards and gardens have a powerful influence to heal the sicknesses caused by a fashionable lifeCH 170.1+1. We are encouraged to not be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind to prove God's perfect will Romans 12:2FE 42.1. True health is found in obeying the laws of our being and seeking the "never-failing remedy," the Saviour3T 168.1+1.