Gods Sabbath

82

E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

indicates a misunderstanding of God’s ways. There is good rea son why God said nothing at Kadesh. The people were turning from His ways to their own because they trusted themselves more than Him. Primarily, God sets out to educate His people in the divine principles by giving them repeated evidences of the way He op erates. Eventually they are brought to a situation which tests them to see what they have learned. If they then elect to follow a wrong course, He does not immediately protest. Further exam ples of this are when Abram and Sarai planned the birth of the promised child through Hagar (see Genesis 16), and when, on the shores of the Red Sea, the Israelites plundered the Egyp tians of their weapons. In neither case did God immediately ut ter disapproval, but this did not mean that He approved of ei ther course of action. Sometimes God speaks out, and sometimes He does not. Does this indicate an inconsistency in His behavior?

Two possible approaches to God

God did not protest

God did protest

definite plan of action formed which they intended to carry out without tak ing counsel

when they asked God to give them what they want ed

thorough education