What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "What sins did Israel commit in the wilderness according to 1 Corinthians 10:7-11, and why did their privileges exacerbate these sins?"
Answer
According to 1 Corinthians 10, Israel in the wilderness fell into the desire for evil things, idolatry, immorality (sexual immorality), the temptation of Christ, and murmuring. Their sins weighed especially heavily because they acted despite great privileges such as divine protection, spiritual nourishment, and the direct revelation of God at Sinai. The blessings they received and the light of truth increased their responsibility, making their unbelief and disobedience be judged as rebellion against their covenant obligations.
The warning from Israel's experience
»Paul pointed the Corinthians to the experience of old Israel, to the blessings that rewarded their obedience, and to the judgments that followed their transgressions. ... The Hebrews had Christ as their leader on all their journeys. ... Despite the favor God showed the Hebrews, God's judgments still came upon them because of their desire for the luxury goods left behind in Egypt and because of their sin and rebellion. ... He showed how love of comfort and pleasure prepared the way for sins that provoked the clear vengeance of God. It happened that when the children of Israel sat down to eat and drink, and rose to play, they cast off the fear of God ... and made a golden calf ... and worshiped it. And after they enjoyed a luxurious feast in connection with the worship of Baal‑Peor, many Hebrews fell through sexual immorality.«
Increased responsibility through received light
»They had received great light, for they had been witnesses of the majesty, power, and mercy of God; and their unbelief and dissatisfaction incurred a greater guilt. Moreover, they had entered into a covenant to recognize Jehovah as their King and to obey His authority. Their murmuring was now rebellion, and as such it had to experience a prompt and clear punishment if Israel were to be saved from anarchy and ruin.«
The magnitude of sins with high confession
»They profess to stand on the elevated platform of eternal truth and to keep all of God's commandments; therefore, when they give themselves to sin, when they commit sexual immorality and adultery, their crime is ten times greater in magnitude than that of the classes I have mentioned who do not recognize God's law as binding upon themselves. In a special sense, those who pretend to keep God's law dishonor Him and bring the truth into disrepute by violating their own regulations.«
The consequences of ingratitude despite miracles
»The power of God, which manifested in remarkable ways at their deliverance from Egypt and was visible from time to time throughout their entire journey, should have filled them with faith and closed their mouths forever against any expression of ingratitude. Yet the slightest fear of lack, the slightest fear of danger for any reason, weighed heavier than the blessings that spoke in their favor and caused them to overlook the blessings received in times of greatest peril.«
Fallen through licentiousness and appetite
»If the Israelites had been obedient to God's words, He would have given them special blessings. But they fell as a result of satisfying appetite and passion. They did not want to be obedient to God's words. The satisfaction of a perverted appetite led them into numerous and serious sins.«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
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