From Splendor to Shadow

Chapter 24—A Nation “Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge”

God's favor toward Israel had always been conditional on their obedience. At Sinai they had entered into covenant with Him as His “own possession among all peoples.” “All that the Lord has spoken we will do,” they had promised. Exodus 19:5, 8, RSV. God had chosen Israel as His people, and they had chosen Him as their King. SS 157.1

Near the close of the wilderness wandering, on the very borders of the Promised Land, those who remained faithful renewed their vows of allegiance. Through Moses they were exhorted to remain separate from the surrounding nations and to worship God alone. See Deuteronomy 4. SS 157.2

The Israelites had been specially charged not to lose sight of the commandments of God. Plain and decided were the warnings given them against the idolatrous customs prevailing among the neighboring nations. “Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which He made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of anything, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee.” Deuteronomy 4:23. SS 157.3

Calling heaven and earth to witness, Moses declared that if, after having dwelt long in the Land of Promise, the people should bow down to graven images and refuse to return to the worship of the true God, they would be carried away captive and scattered among the heathen. “Ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it,” he warned them. “Ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you.” Verses 26, 27. SS 157.4

This prophecy, fulfilled in part in the time of the judges, met a more complete and literal fulfillment in the captivity of Israel in Assyria and of Judah in Babylon. Satan had made repeated attempts to cause the chosen nation to forget “the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments” that they had promised to keep forever. Deuteronomy 6:1. He knew that if he could lead Israel to “walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them,” they would “surely perish.” Deuteronomy 8:19. SS 158.1

The enemy of God's church on the earth had not, however, taken into account the compassionate nature of Him whose glory it is to be “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity.” Exodus 34:6, 7. Even in the darkest hours of their history, the Lord graciously spread before Israel the things that were for the welfare of the nation. “It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,” He declared through Hosea. “I took them up in My arms; but they did not know that I healed them.” Hosea 11:3, RSV. SS 158.2

Tenderly had the Lord dealt with them, instructing them by His prophets. If Israel had heeded the messages of the prophets, they would have been spared humiliation. But because they persisted in turning aside from His law, God was compelled to let them go into captivity. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge,” was His message. “Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee ... : seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God.” Hosea 4:6. SS 158.3

In every age, transgression of God's law has been followed by the same result. In the days of Noah, when iniquity became so deep and widespread that God could no longer bear with it, the decree went forth, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth.” Genesis 6:7. In Abraham's day the people of Sodom openly defied God and His law; they passed the limits of divine forbearance, and there was kindled against them the fire of God's vengeance. SS 158.4

The time preceding the captivity of the ten tribes of Israel was one of similar wickedness. Hosea declared: “The Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There ... is swearing, lying, killing, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds and murder follows murder.” Hosea 4:1, 2, RSV. SS 159.1