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service。
It was because the Israelites were so disposed to connect themselves with
the heathen and imitate their idolatry that God had permitted them to go
down into Egypt； where the influence of Joseph was widely felt； and where
circumstances were favorable for them to remain a distinct people。 Here also
the gross idolatry of the Egyptians and their cruelty and oppression during
the latter part of the Hebrew sojourn should have inspired in them an
abhorrence of idolatry； and should have led them to flee for refuge to the
God of their fathers。 This very providence Satan made a means to serve his
purpose； darkening the minds of the Israelites and leading them to imitate
the practices of their heathen masters。 On account of the superstitious
veneration in which animals were held by the Egyptians； the Hebrews were not
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permitted； during their bondage； to present the sacrificial offerings。 Thus
their minds were not directed by this service to the great Sacrifice； and
their faith was weakened。 When the time came for Israel's deliverance； Satan
set himself to resist the purposes of God。 It was his determination that
that great people； numbering more than two million souls； should be held in
ignorance and superstition。 The people whom God had promised to bless and
multiply； to make a power in the earth； and through whom he was to reveal
the knowledge of His willthe people whom He was to make the keepers of His
lawthis very people Satan was seeking to keep in obscurity and bondage；
that he might obliterate from their minds the remembrance of God。
When the miracles were wrought before the king； Satan was on the ground to
counteract their influence and prevent Pharaoh from acknowledging the
supremacy of God and obeying His mandate。 Satan wrought to the utmost of his
power to counterfeit the work of God and resist His will。 The only result
was to prepare the way for greater exhibitions of the divine power and
glory； and to make more apparent； both to the Israelites and to all Egypt；
the existence and sovereignty of the true and living God。
God delivered Israel with the mighty manifestations of His power； and with
judgments upon all the gods of Egypt。 〃He brought forth his people with joy；
and His chosen with gladness： 。 。 。 that they might observe His statutes；
and keep His laws。〃 Psalm 105：43…45。 He rescued them from their servile
state； that He might bring them to a good landa land which in His
providence had been prepared for them as a refuge from their enemies； where
they might dwell under the shadow of His wings。 He would bring them to
Himself； and encircle them in His everlasting arms； and in return for all
His goodness and mercy to them they were required to have no other gods
before Him； the living God； and to exalt His name and make it glorious in
the earth。
During the bondage in Egypt many of the Israelites had； to a great extent；
lost the knowledge of God's law； and had mingled its precepts with heathen
customs and traditions。 God brought them to Sinai； and there with His own
voice declared His law。
Satan and evil angels were on the ground。 Even while God was proclaiming His
law to His people； Satan was plotting to tempt them to sin。 This people whom
God had chosen； he would wrench away； in the very face of Heaven。 By leading
them into
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idolatry； he would destroy the efficacy of all worship； for how can man be
elevated by adoring what is no higher than himself and may be symbolized by
his own handiwork？ If men could become so blinded to the power； the majesty；
and the glory of the infinite God as to represent Him by a graven image； or
even by a beast or reptile； if they could so forget their own divine
relationship； formed in the image of their Maker as to bow down to these
revolting and senseless objectsthen the way was open for foul license； the
evil passions of the heart would be unrestrained； and Satan would have full
sway。
At the very foot of Sinai； Satan began to execute his plans for overthrowing
the law of God； thus carrying forward the same work he had begun in heaven。
During the forty days while Moses was in the mount with God； Satan was busy
exciting doubt； apostasy； and rebellion。 While God was writing down His law；
to be committed to His covenant people； the Israelites； denying their
loyalty to Jehovah； were demanding gods of gold！ When Moses came from the
awful presence of the divine glory； with the precepts of the law which they
had pledged themselves to obey； he found them； in open defiance of its
commands； bowing in adoration before a golden image。
By leading Israel to this daring insult and blasphemy to Jehovah； Satan had
planned to cause their ruin。 Since they had proved themselves to be so
utterly degraded； so lost to all sense of the privileges and blessings that
God had offered them； and to their own solemn and repeated pledges of
loyalty； the Lord would； he believed； divorce them from Himself and devote
them to destruction。 Thus would be secured the extinction of the seed of
Abraham； that seed of promise that was to preserve the knowledge of the
living God； and through whom He was to comethe true Seed； that was to
conquer Satan。 The great rebel had planned to destroy Israel； and thus
thwart the purposes of God。 But again he was defeated。 Sinful as they were；
the people of Israel were not destroyed。 While those who stubbornly ranged
themselves on the side of Satan were cut off； the people； humbled and
repentant； were mercifully pardoned。 The history of this sin was to stand as
a perpetual testimony to the guilt and punishment of idolatry； and the
justice and long…suffering mercy of God。
The whole universe had been witness to the scenes at Sinai。 In the working
out of the two administrations was seen the
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contrast between the government of God and that of Satan。 Again the sinless
inhabitants of other worlds beheld the results of Satan's apostasy； and the
kind of government he would have established in heaven had he been permitted
to bear sway。
By causing men to violate the second commandment； Satan aimed to degrade
their conceptions of the Divine Being。 By setting aside the fourth； he would
cause them to forget God altogether。 God's claim to reverence and worship；
above the gods of the heathen； is based upon the fact that He is the
Creator； and that to Him all other beings owe their existence。 Thus it is
presented in the Bible。 Says the prophet Jeremiah： 〃The Lord is the true
God； He is the living God； and an everlasting King。 。 。 。 The gods that have
not made the heavens and the earth； even they shall perish from the earth；
and from under these heavens。 He hath made the earth by His power； He hath
established the world by His wisdom； and hath stretched out the heavens by
His discretion。〃 〃Every man is brutish in his knowledge： every founder is
confounded by the graven image： for his molten image is falsehood； and there
is no breath in them。 They are vanity； and the work of errors： in the time
of their visitation they shall perish。 The portion of Jacob is not like
them： for He is the former of all thi