The Everlasting Covenant

Chapter 38 - Bondage Preferred to Freedom

Boast as they will of their freedom and independence, men in general love slavery, and would rather be in bondage than be free. This is demonstrated by facts. EVCO 469.1

The God of the universe has made a proclamation of freedom to all mankind; He has even given liberty to all; yet but few will take advantage of it. The experience of ancient Israel is but the experience of the human heart. Twice the Lord made it very plain to Abraham that his seed should be free—once when He said that his servant Eliezer should not be his heir, and again when He told him that the son of a bondwoman could not be heir. EVCO 469.2

Later He delivered Israel from the bondage of Egypt, that they might enjoy freedom, even the freedom of obedience to the perfect law of liberty; but they murmured, and “in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us.” ¹ EVCO 469.3

Forty years later God rolled away from them the reproach of Egypt, yet they afterward desired to be like the heathen round them, by having a king, who, as they were assured, would make them slaves. And so it proved; for they not only learned the ways of the heathen, but “overpassed” them. “The Lord God of their fathers sent to them by His messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on His people, and on His dwelling place; but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:15, 16) and He fulfilled His threat to carry them away beyond Babylon. ¹ EVCO 469.4