Gods Sabbath

S UCCESS AND F AILURES

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cific orders have been accepted and followed, there has resulted only unqualified success. Furthermore, these lessons of history show us that each time we fail to follow God’s ways, we not only delay God’s work, but we make it harder for ourselves the next time round. God always brings us back to the testing point, just as He brought Israel back time and again. When they eventually succeeded, through trusting God instead of themselves in their battles against the warlike Sihon and the giant king Og, their tests were much more difficult than the ones they had previously failed. “In their contest with Og and Sihon the people were brought to the same test beneath which their fathers had so signally failed. But the trial was now far more severe than when God had com manded Israel to go forward. The difficulties in their way had greatly increased since they refused to advance when bidden to do so in the name of the Lord. It is thus that God still tests His people. And if they fail to endure the trial, He brings them again

to the same point, and the second time the trial will come closer, and be more severe than the preceding. This is con tinued until they bear the test, or, if they are still rebellious, God with draws His light from them and leaves them in darkness.” Patriarchs and Prophets , 437.1. What is true of the past is also true of the present, for God’s ways have never changed. We have no excuse for

Test

40 years

After 40 years the Israelites had to face the same test again

not knowing those ways, because they are repeatedly spelled out in the Scriptures. There we see God revealed as the Source, Christ the Connector, and ourselves as dependent receivers. We do not have the wisdom to plan our own lives, for it is not in us to direct our steps successfully. (See Jeremiah 10:23.) Therefore, the role of plan maker, problem solver, and burden bearer is not ours. That is God’s prerogative and only He is qual ified to occupy those positions satisfactorily. When we confident ly take that work upon ourselves, we are usurping God’s place. This is a direct violation of the first commandment and severs our vital connection with the Almighty, exposing us to danger