Gods Sabbath

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E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

a committee approach, but simply the delegation of the work God had given in a team effort. “The Lord had greatly honored Moses, and had wrought wonders by his hand; but the fact that he had been chosen to in struct others did not lead him to conclude that he himself need ed no instruction. The chosen leader of Israel listened gladly to the suggestions of the godly priest of Midian, and adopted his plan as a wise arrangement.” Patriarchs and Prophets , 301.1 Moses did not see himself as beyond counsel. In his willing ac ceptance of counsel he demonstrated the wisdom of Solomon: “Where no counsel [is], the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.... The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel [is] wise.... Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” Proverbs 11:14, 12:5, 15:22. The Building of the Sanctuary With Pharaoh’s power totally broken, the Israelites’ journey to Canaan was resumed with the Egyptian threat permanently removed. Even though they were now apparently safe, God still did not hand over the responsibility of plan making to Israel. He continued to retain this role Himself. Again, contrary to what they might have expected and certainly would have planned for themselves, God did not lead them northwards in a direct march to the Promised Land. He directed them southeast to Mt. Sinai. Unperceived by them, there was yet a great work of preparation needed before they would be ready to invade Canaan. They un derestimated the prerequisites for such an invasion, and if they had been the plan makers themselves, they would have under taken the assault of the Canaanites while still hopelessly unpre pared for the struggle. More than anything else, the Israelites needed three things: •the knowledge of God’s character as expressed in His law •the gospel as revealed in the wilderness sanctuary and its services, •and faith in their great Plan Maker.

Instead of giving Moses the job of building the sanctuary, God endowed some of the other men with great ability in art and