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need of divine aid； and then He wrought deliverance for them。 Thus they were
filled with love and gratitude to God and with confidence in His power to
help them。 He had bound them to Himself as their deliverer from temporal
bondage。
But there was a still greater truth to be impressed upon their minds。 Living
in the midst of idolatry and corruption； they had no true conception of the
holiness of God； of the exceeding sinfulness of their own hearts； their
utter inability； in themselves； to render obedience to God's law； and their
need of a Saviour。 All this they must be taught。
God brought them to Sinai； He manifested His glory； He gave them His law；
with the promise of great blessings on condition of obedience： 〃If ye will
obey My voice indeed； and keep My covenant； then 。 。 。 ye shall be unto Me a
kingdom of priests； and an holy nation。〃 Exodus 19：5； 6。 The people did not
realize
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the sinfulness of their own hearts； and that without Christ it was
impossible for them to keep God's law； and they readily entered into
covenant with God。 Feeling that they were able to establish their own
righteousness； they declared； 〃All that the Lord hath said will we do； and
be obedient。〃 Exodus 24：7。 They had witnessed the proclamation of the law in
awful majesty； and had trembled with terror before the mount； and yet only a
few weeks passed before they broke their covenant with God； and bowed down
to worship a graven image。 They could not hope for the favor of God through
a covenant which they had broken； and now； seeing their sinfulness and their
need of pardon； they were brought to feel their need of the Saviour revealed
in the Abrahamic covenant and shadowed forth in the sacrificial offerings。
Now by faith and love they were bound to God as their deliverer from the
bondage of sin。 Now they were prepared to appreciate the blessings of the
new covenant。
The terms of the 〃old covenant〃 were； Obey and live： 〃If a man do； he shall
even live in them〃 （Ezekiel 20：11； Leviticus 18：5）； but 〃cursed be he that
confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them。〃 Deuteronomy 27：26。 The
〃new covenant〃 was established upon 〃better promises〃the promise of
forgiveness of sins and of the grace of God to renew the heart and bring it
into harmony with the principles of God's law。 〃This shall be the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel； After those days； saith the Lord；
I will put my law in their inward parts； and write it in their hearts。 。 。 。
I will forgive their iniquity； and will remember their sin no more。〃
Jeremiah 31：33； 34。
The same law that was engraved upon the tables of stone is written by the
Holy Spirit upon the tables of the heart。 Instead of going about to
establish our own righteousness we accept the righteousness of Christ。 His
blood atones for our sins。 His obedience is accepted for us。 Then the heart
renewed by the Holy Spirit will bring forth 〃the fruits of the Spirit。〃
Through the grace of Christ we shall live in obedience to the law of God
written upon our hearts。 Having the Spirit of Christ； we shall walk even as
He walked。 Through the prophet He declared of Himself； 〃I delight to do Thy
will； O My God： yea； Thy law is within My heart。〃 Psalm 40：8。 And when among
men He said； 〃The Father hath not left Me alone； for I do always those
things that please Him。〃 John 8：29。
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The apostle Paul clearly presents the relation between faith and the law
under the new covenant。 He says： 〃Being justified by faith； we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ。〃 〃Do we then make void the law
through faith？ God forbid： yea； we establish the law。〃 〃For what the law
could not do； in that it was weak through the flesh〃it could not justify
man； because in his sinful nature he could not keep the law〃God sending
His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh； and for sin； condemned sin in
the flesh： that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us； who
walk not after the flesh； but after the Spirit。〃 Romans 5：1； 3：31； 8：3； 4。
God's work is the same in all time； although there are different degrees of
development and different manifestations of His power； to meet the wants of
men in the different ages。 Beginning with the first gospel promise； and
coming down through the patriarchal and Jewish ages； and even to the present
time； there has been a gradual unfolding of the purposes of God in the plan
of redemption。 The Saviour typified in the rites and ceremonies of the
Jewish law is the very same that is revealed in the gospel。 The clouds that
enveloped His divine form have rolled back； the mists and shades have
disappeared； and Jesus； the world's Redeemer； stands revealed。 He who
proclaimed the law from Sinai； and delivered to Moses the precepts of the
ritual law； is the same that spoke the Sermon on the Mount。 The great
principles of love to God； which He set forth as the foundation of the law
and the prophets； are only a reiteration of what He had spoken through Moses
to the Hebrew people： 〃Hear； O Israel： The Lord our God is one Lord： and
thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart； and with all thy
soul； and with all thy might。〃 Deuteronomy 6：4； 5。 〃Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself。〃 Leviticus 19：18。 The teacher is the same in both
dispensations。 God's claims are the same。 The principles of His government
are the same。 For all proceed from Him 〃with whom is no variableness；
neither shadow of turning。〃 James 1：17。
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Chapter 33
From Sinai to Kadesh
The building of the tabernacle was not begun for some time after Israel
arrived at Sinai； and the sacred structure was first set up at the opening
of the second year from the Exodus。 This was followed by the consecration of
the priests； the celebration of the Passover； the numbering of the people；
and the completion of various arrangements essential to their civil or
religious system； so that nearly a year was spent in the encampment at
Sinai。 Here their worship had taken a more definite form； the laws had been
given for the government of the nation； and a more efficient organization
had been effected preparatory to their entrance into the land of Canaan。
The government of Israel was characterized by the most thorough
organization； wonderful alike for its completeness and its simplicity。 The
order so strikingly displayed in the perfection and arrangement of all God's
created works was manifest in the Hebrew economy。 God was the center of
authority and government； the sovereign of Israel。 Moses stood as their
visible leader； by God's appointment； to administer the laws in His name。
From the elders of the tribes a council of seventy was afterward chosen to
assist Moses in the general affairs of the nation。 Next came the priests；
who consulted the Lord in the sanctuary。 Chiefs； or princes； ruled over the
tribes。 Under these were 〃captains over thousands； and captains over
hundreds； and captains over fifties； and captains over tens；〃 and； lastly；
officers who might be employed for special duties。 Deut