’WPCõ  䆼­x˜'„§yĢƟq9€½»įD‰&ēr_†ĶNÄCƒmYT=)+ę‡H0ĮŖÄ]©~ĀzŁŖÜĄd%Ÿ <œö †.čķLÉ$¾ķg1'ėŠö¢³ņ½čō˜»ĶhY#_õK¾®o‘.ģD ÷u’{lėĀEū2æv9D½ĆÓŻZū^¬'ĢG›Ėšm\’;³×\„’˜³c¤˜©¾F’ß-žęõ1ķŸ–Æ“·ŅļD±n|ĮŻĶ‰Ž…ŁĘś^HŻ99¬Źmų š‹QNĄa cšģś|{=®«Ź1t¹ó`_/rKcN€ņ>©ćÄ6Ķ‘²ŠåĶ¹¦@·­Ļ„zRj†īc}Ųžh†9¶āE,Z3č… 5I^0Xv®Æ9Ģ’)ƒū@²¼¢ķOČMįęž ŲiO‹xv  gZÅ[iłĻĒŹĖ,Ź|½½ģ&éi%X-9zĆķću KŹš€Ź_… bĢ…Ģœ:ģs}–£ąQ-Ė²ø­ŌBKG ^nå°=ŪFF9AżįąØ1:`˜ā/ü5Ām›Üń†\ŁS„Äü©Fʍ³ %ż9G7ŲÓ`óGNģtŗßQ“2O„;!Lh¾V6‘#/©goÆ»£øFš+e#!†U N§ %õ 0:ū^ 5 w^A 4Ÿ ³ Ā mÄ bŪ Ū Nõ ÷ 1‡’ 72† 1uø 72- 0c_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ AŸĀ 0Va a D-· 0Kä Ę/ ˜Microsoft Fax,22,0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ō“†å*‰FGHEIJEKELMENOEPQERSĄTDŒN£*ź:i¢Ų+003|xT ’U‹’ĄĄĄPage ł of &ł 8Ł?OU[agmsyLettersLettersA.A.A.A.A.A.A.A.A.3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)(;3£$““Ō2#ŌŚ  Ś0Ś  Ś.Ō3  Ōą0  ąd`cb‘ I&mage <=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’ HKKKK(.3½Ž$££Ż ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  Ż)!ČČČČdxdx( ±ž$’’ņ ņFigure€Ś  Ś1Ś  Śó óLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Ż ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌÓÓÓÓŃ8€æŲņņdĢdČ8ŃHeritage€Sabbath€SermonŠ ° ŠOctober€20,€2001ĢĢÓOÓŌ‡¼3i»XXŌÓÓą@ģģ#ģąņ ņLest€We€ForgetŌ#†X•>X»¼3iķ#Ōó óˆŠ \¬ ŠÓ Óą@éé ģąņņŌ‡ōæŲņXX•>Ōby€G.€Ralph€ThompsonŌ#†X•>XņōæŲØ#ŌóóˆŠ pĄ ŠÓ€Óą  ąš šOnly€take€heed€to€thyself,€and€keep€thy€soul€diligently,€lest€thou€forget€the€things€whichĻthine€eyes€have€seen,€and€lest€they€depart€from€thy€heart€all€the€days€of€thy€life:€but€teach€them€thyĻsons,€and€thy€sonsšš€sonsšš€(Deut€4:9,€KJV).Ģą  ąš šBeware€that€thou€forget€not€the€Lord€thy€God,€in€not€keeping€his€commandments,€and€hisĻjudgments,€and€his€statutes,€which€I€command€thee€this€dayšš€(Deut.€8:11,€KJV).Ģņ ņThe€First€Forty€Yearsó óŠ ¶  Šą  ąThe€life€of€Moses€is€divided€into€three€periods€of€forty€years€each.€€He€was€the€miracle€babyĻof€Ō_ŌAmramŌ_Ō€and€Ō_ŌJochebedŌ_Ō,€born€at€the€time€when€there€was€a€decree€from€Pharaoh€to€kill€every€maleĻchild€born€to€Israelite€slaves€in€Egypt.€€We€are€familiar€with€the€story€of€how€his€parents€defiedĻPharaohššs€command€by€keeping€his€birth€secret.€€By€the€time€he€was€three€months€old,€Ō_ŌJochebedŌ_Ōńń€ńńĻcould€no€longer€hide€him.€€She€made€a€little€water„tight€boat€of€reeds,€and€put€the€baby€in€it.€ĻCommitting€her€child€to€the€care€of€God,€she€hid€the€little€ark€in€the€rushes€along€the€riverššs€edge.€ĻThe€babyššs€sister,€Miriam,€stayed€nearby€to€see€what€would€happen.Ģą  ąSoon€Pharaohššs€daughter,€coming€down€to€the€river,€heard€a€little€babyššs€cry€andńń€ńń€discoveredĻhim.€€She€knew€at€once€that€this€was€a€Hebrew€child.€€In€her€sympathy€for€the€mother,€she€decided€toĻadopt€the€beautiful€baby€and€bring€him€up€as€her€own.€€Miriam,€casually€looking€on,€offered€to€get€aĻnurse€for€the€child€from€among€the€Hebrews.€€His€mother€became€that€nurse,€and€for€twelve€preciousĻyears€she€had€the€opportunity€to€instill€in€Moses€the€knowledge€of€the€true€God.€€His€mother€taughtĻhim€the€folly€and€sin€of€idiolatry,€and€taught€him€to€bow€down€and€pray€to€the€living€God€who€madeĻheaven€and€earthš"šthe€God€who€alone€could€help€him.€€Inņņ€Patriarchs€and€Prophets,€óóp.€244,€weŠ j#ŗ, Šread,€€š šHow€far€reaching€in€its€results€was€the€influence€of€that€one€Hebrew€woman,€and€she€an€exileĻand€a€slave!€€The€whole€future€life€of€Moses,€the€great€mission€which€he€fulfilled€as€the€leader€ofĻIsrael,€testifies€to€the€importance€of€the€work€of€the€Christian€mother.€€There€is€no€other€work€thatĻcan€equal€this.€€To€a€very€great€extent,€the€mother€holds€in€her€own€hands€the€destiny€of€her€children.€ĻShe€is€dealing€with€developing€minds€and€characters,€working€not€alone€for€time,€but€for€eternity.€ĻShe€is€sowing€seed€that€will€spring€up€and€bear€fruit,€either€for€good€or€for€evil.€€She€has€not€to€paintŠ w+Ē&8 Ša€form€of€beauty€upon€canvass€or€to€chisel€it€from€marble,€but€to€impress€upon€a€human€soul€theĻimage€of€the€divine.ššĢą  ąSo,€until€Moses€was€forty€years€of€age€he€was€the€adopted€son€of€Pharaohššs€daughter,€heir€toĻthe€Egyptian€throne.€€He€was€trained€in€the€wisdom€of€the€Egyptiansš"šin€science,€mathematics,Ļmedicine,€astronomy,€military€strategy,€philosophy,€history€and€theology,€law,€economicsńń,ńń€andĻarchitecture.€€š šMoses€was€fitted€to€take€pre„eminence€among€the€great€of€the€earth,€to€shine€in€theĻcourts€of€its€most€glorious€kingdom,€and€to€sway€the€scepter€of€its€power.€€His€intellectual€greatnessĻdistinguishes€him€above€the€great€men€of€all€ages.€€As€historian,€poet,€€philosopher,€general€ofĻarmies,€and€legislator,€he€stands€without€a€peer.€€Yet€with€the€world€before€him,€he€had€the€moralĻstrength€to€refuse€the€flattering€prospects€of€wealth€and€greatness€and€fame,€ššchoosing€rather€toĻsuffer€affliction€with€the€people€of€God,€than€to€enjoy€the€pleasures€of€sin€for€a€seasonšššš€€(Heb.Ļ11:24,€26;€ņņPatriarchs€and€Prophetsóó,€p.€246).Š b² Šą  ąMoses€never€forgot€his€roots;€his€motherššs€teaching€continually€reminded€him€of€the€trueĻGod.€€He€was€an€Israelite,€not€an€Egyptian,€and€he€never€became€brain„washed€by€the€EgyptianĻeducational€system€so€that€he€forgot€his€true€background€and€the€true€God.Ģņ ņThe€Second€Forty€Yearsó óŠ Ć Šą  ąThe€second€forty„year€period€of€his€life€began€when€one€day€he€saw€an€Egyptian€striking€anĻIsraelite.€€Immediately€his€Hebrew€loyalty€came€to€the€forefront.€€The€Egyptian€was€beating€ń ń€ń ńone€ofĻhis€kinsmen,€and€without€stopping€to€think€of€the€consequences€he€sprang€forward€and€killed€theĻEgyptian,€burying€him€in€the€sand.€€He€thought€that€this€act€would€establish€forever€in€the€minds€ofĻhis€fellow€Israelites€that€he€indeed€was€on€their€side€and€considered€them€his€people.€Ģą  ąBut€how€wrong€he€was!€€š šFor€he€supposed€his€brethren€would€have€understood€how€thatĻGod€by€his€hand€would€deliver€them;€but€they€understood€notšš€(Acts€7:25).€€He€did€not€realize€howĻjealous€they€were€of€his€living€the€life€of€a€prince€in€the€kingššs€palace,€while€they€had€to€work€asĻslaves€in€the€hot€Egyptian€sun.Ģą  ąSome€while€later€he€saw€two€Israelites€fighting€and€went€to€make€peace€between€them.€€TheĻoffender€said€to€him,€š šWho€made€you€a€judge€and€a€ruler€over€us?€€Do€you€want€to€kill€me€as€youĻkilled€the€Egyptian?šš€Ģą  ąMoses€was€stunned€to€learn€that€his€secret€was€widely€known.€€€It€would€not€be€long€beforeĻword€reached€the€palace€that€the€heir€to€the€Egyptian€throne€had€killed€an€Egyptian€to€save€anŠ w+Ē&: ŠIsraelite€slave.€€If€he€were€to€be€captured,€he€most€certainly€would€be€put€to€death€as€a€traitor,€forĻPharaoh€would€consider€this€an€act€of€treason.Ģą  ąMoses€fled€for€his€life,€and€thus€began€the€second€forty„year€period€of€his€life.Ģą  ąEventually€arriving€in€Ō_ŌMidianŌ_Ō,€Moses€began€a€new€life€there.€€It€would€take€forty€long€yearsĻfor€him€€to€unlearn€all€the€principles€of€leadership€he€had€learned€in€the€University€of€Egypt.€€In€theĻarduous€University€of€Ō_ŌMidianŌ_Ō€he€would€enroll€in€a€post„graduate€course€in€true€leadershipņņņ ņ.ó óóóŠ ^ ®  Šą  ąš šIn€the€school€of€self€denial€and€hardship€he€was€to€learn€patience,€to€temper€his€passions.€ĻBefore€he€could€govern€wisely,€he€must€be€trained€to€obey.€€His€own€heart€must€be€fully€in€harmonyĻwith€God€before€he€could€teach€the€knowledge€of€His€will€to€Israel.€€By€his€own€experience€he€mustĻbe€prepared€to€exercise€a€fatherly€care€over€all€who€needed€his€help.Ģą  ąš šMan€would€have€dispensed€with€that€long€period€of€toil€and€obscurity,€deeming€it€a€greatĻloss€of€time.€€But€Infinite€Wisdom€called€him€who€was€to€become€the€leader€of€His€people,€to€spendĻforty€years€in€the€humble€work€of€a€shepherd.€€The€habits€of€care„taking,€of€self„forgetń!ń„ń!ńfulness€andĻtender€solicitude€for€his€flock,€thus€developed,€would€prepare€him€to€become€the€compassionate,Ļlongsuffering€shepherd€of€Israel.€€No€advantage€that€human€training€or€culture€could€bestow,€couldĻbe€a€substitute€for€this€experiencešš€(ņņPatriarchs€and€Prophets,€óópp.€247,€248).ņņŠ Ģ Šóóą  ąIn€Ō_ŌMidianŌ_Ō,€God€directed€Moses€to€find€a€home€with€Jethro,€the€priest€and€prince€of€Ō_ŌMidianŌ_Ō,Š +{  Šwho€was€a€worshiper€of€the€true€God.€€Jethro€had€several€daughters€and€after€a€time€Moses€marriedĻone€of€them.€€Her€name€was€Ō_ŌZipporahŌ_Ō.Ģą  ąSo€it€was€that€in€the€service€of€his€father„in„law€he€spent€the€next€forty€years€as€keeper€of€hisĻflocks.€€It€was€there€in€Ō_ŌMidianŌ_Ō€that€God€prepared€Moses€for€the€greatest€undertaking€of€his€lifeš"šoneĻthat€would€involve€the€third€forty„year€period€of€his€life.Ģą  ąIn€Ō_ŌMidianŌ_Ō,€shut€in€by€the€mountains,€alone€with€God€and€nature,€€Moses€came€into€closeĻcontact€with€the€God€of€heaven.€€It€was€there€that€Mosesšš€pride€and€self€sufficiency€were€sweptĻaway.€€He€became€patient,€reverent,€and€humble.€€It€was€there€in€Ō_ŌMidianŌ_Ō,€under€the€inspiration€of€theĻHoly€Spirit,€that€he€wrote€the€book€of€Genesis,€and,€it€is€believed,€the€book€of€Job.€€In€fact,€the€firstĻfive€books€of€the€Bible€are€attributed€to€Moses,€as€well€as€the€moving€and€€beautiful€ninetieth€Psalm.Ģņ ņThe€Third€Forty€Yearsó ó€Š Ż(-$6 Šą  ąAt€the€end€of€the€second€forty„year€period,€Moses€received€his€call€directly€from€God€at€theĻburning€bush.€€He€was€to€go€back€to€Egypt€and€lead€Godššs€people€out€of€bondage.€€The€time€for€GodŠ ’+ā&: Što€act€had€come.€€History€was€about€to€be€changed€by€the€voice€of€prophecy.Ģą  ąMoses€hesitated€at€the€call€of€God.€€He€felt€he€was€neither€qualified€nor€ready€for€such€anĻundertaking.€€This€is€evidence€of€the€fact€that€indeed€he€had€learned€his€lessons€well€in€Ō_ŌMidianŌ_Ō.€ĻThere€was€no€self€sufficiency€within€him;€total€dependence€upon€God€would€be€necessary€for€aĻsuccessful€outcome€of€the€plan.Ģą  ąRelying€entirely€upon€God,€Moses€went€back€to€Egypt€and€appeared€before€Pharaoh,Ļrequesting€that€the€Israelites€be€freed€from€slavery.€€As€Pharaoh€mocked€him€for€such€an€outrageousĻdemand,€Moses€held€out€his€rod€and€it€became€a€serpent,€a€symbol€of€Godššs€power€over€all€of€theĻmight€and€so„called€power€of€the€false€gods€of€Egypt.€€Ģą  ąPharaoh€would€give€his€word€to€let€the€people€go,€then€renege€on€his€promise,€making€lifeĻeven€harder€for€the€Hebrews.€€God€sent€ń%ńPń%ńń&ńpń&ńlague€after€plagueń'ń,ń'ń€ń(ńwas€sent€from,€ń(ńbut€each€time€Pharaohń)ńššsń)ńń*ń€hardened€hisń*ńĻheart€ń+ńwas€hardened€ń+ńand€ń,ńhe€ń,ńrefused€to€let€the€people€go.Ģą  ąBut€finally,€death€stalked€the€land€of€Egypt.€€The€last€devastating€plagueš"šthe€death€of€allĻthe€first„born,€from€the€palace€to€the€hovel,€from€the€richest€to€the€poorestš"šwas€poured€out.€€InĻevery€household€where€the€Egyptians€dwelt€there€was€the€cry€of€death.€€At€last€Pharaoh€agreed€€to€letĻthe€Israelite€slaves€go.€€ń-ńThey€nń-ńń.ńNń.ńumberń/ńedń/ńń0ńingń0ń€more€than€a€million€strong,€ń1ńand€ń1ńthey€left€the€land€of€Egypt€with€joyĻand€thanksgiving€for€their€deliverance€by€the€mighty€God€of€heaven.Ģą  ąBy€the€time€the€Israelites€reached€the€Red€Sea,€Pharaoh€had€changed€his€mind,€and€he€andĻthe€Egyptian€armies€ń2ńcame€after€them€ń2ńń2ńwere€ń2ńin€full€pursuit.€€Because€of€Godššs€command,€the€Israelitesń3ń€ń3ń€hadĻchanged€their€route€from€south„easterly€to€south„westerly,€from€the€shorter€route€to€the€longer€oneĻtoward€the€Red€Sea.€€But€Pharaoh€had€mistaken€this,€thinking€they€were€lost,€and€he€was€in€fastĻpursuit,€sure€he€would€overtake€them.Ģą  ąThe€fleeing€Israelites€were€surrounded€by€the€mountains,€and€with€the€Red€Sea€before€themĻthey€were€caught€in€a€tight€place.€€When€they€saw€the€pursuing€host€of€the€Egyptians,€they€wereĻafraid.€€They€turned€on€Moses€and€began€to€berate€him,€asking,€š šWhy€did€you€bring€us€out€here€toĻdie?šš€€How€short€is€human€memory!€€They€had€already€forgotten€their€bondage,€their€hard€life€andĻcries€to€God€for€mercy€and€deliverance.€€Moses€now€understood€why€he€had€to€go€through€theĻŌ_ŌMidianŌ_Ō€experience.€€He€now€understood€that€blame€would€be€laid€at€his€feet.€€He€now€€understoodĻthat€leadership€is€hardship.€€Moses€had€no€one€to€turn€to€but€God.€€And€God€answered.€€Ģą  ąMoses€€said€to€the€people,€š šStand€still€and€see€the€salvation€of€the€Lord.šš€€And€the€Lord€saidŠ n+¾&: Što€Moses,€š šSpeak€unto€the€children€of€Israel€that€they€go€forward.šš€€And€what€fantastic€miraclesĻtook€place€right€before€their€eyes€in€a€grand€display€of€Godššs€mighty€power€(Ex.€14:13„41)ń4ń.€ń4ńń5ń!ń5ńĢņ ņFantastic€Miraclesó óŠ \¬ Šą  ąAgain€God€instructed€Moses€to€use€that€shepherdššs€rod,€to€hold€it€over€the€waters€of€the€RedĻSea.€€As€he€did€so,€the€waters€parted,€standing€as€a€wall,€holding€back€the€surging€sea,ń6ń€ń6ń€and€a€greatĻwide€highway€appeared€before€their€eyes.€€The€host€of€Israel€marched€across€on€dry€land€while€theĻwaters€stood€as€a€dam€on€both€sides€of€their€highway.Ģą  ąPharaoh€and€his€host€plunged€in€behind€them,€still€certain€that€they€would€capture€theĻHebrews€and€return€them€to€Egypt.€€By€the€time€the€last€human€beings€and€animals€of€Israel€set€footĻon€the€other€side€on€dry€ground,€the€Egyptian€host€had€progressed€to€the€middle€of€the€sea.€Again,Ļunder€Godššs€command,€Moses€stretched€his€rod€over€the€sea,€and€with€the€roar€of€a€thousandĻhurricanes€the€waters€came€roiling€back€together€again.€€The€Egyptian€army,€including€Pharaoh,Ļalong€with€all€their€horses€and€chariots,€were€trapped€in€the€middle€of€the€raging€sea€and€destroyed.€ĻThe€people€of€Israel€broke€forth€into€mighty€singingš"šsongs€of€victory€and€deliverance.€€Ģą  ąIt€would€seem€that€after€seeing€this€marvelous€display€of€Godššs€power€and€saving€grace€onĻtheir€behalf,€there€would€be€no€more€murmuring€or€doubting€on€the€part€of€the€Israelites.€€But€thisĻwas€not€the€case.€€Time€and€time€again€the€patience€of€Mosesš"šand€of€Godš"š€was€tested€to€the€limit.€ĻMoses€patiently€filled€the€role€of€father€to€the€people€until€one€day,€in€total€exhaustion€andĻexasperation,€he€was€pushed€so€far€that€he€was€tempted€into€disobeying€Godššs€command.Ģą  ąOnce€again,€the€water€supply€was€exhausted,€and€the€demands€of€the€people€seemedĻespecially€grievous.€€The€first€time€the€people€had€complained€of€thirst,€God€had€told€Moses€to€strikeĻthe€rock,€and€pure,€refreshing€water€gushed€out.€Ģņ ņMoses€Strikes€the€Rockó óŠ "d, Šą  ąWhen€a€similar€crisis€arose€a€second€time,€God€told€€Moses€to€š šSpeak€to€the€rock.šš€€ButĻMoses€had€heard€so€much€whining€and€complaining€from€these€people,€so€much€ungratefulĻgrumbling€against€God,€that€in€anger€toward€them€he€lost€his€temper€and€disobeyed€GodššsĻcommand.€€He€struck€the€rock€instead€of€speaking€to€it,€thus€spoiling€the€symbol€and€disobeying€ĻGod.Ģą  ąNevertheless,€God€honored€Moses€by€letting€the€water€cascade€from€the€stone.€€But€He€toldĻhim€that€because€he€had€disobeyed€His€command,€he€would€not€be€able€to€go€over€into€the€land€ofŠ n+¾&: ŠCanaan.€€God€knew€how€desperately€Moses€wanted€to€enter€the€Promised€Land,€but€He€could€not€letĻhis€disobedience€go€unnoticed.€€God€is€particular.€€€š šAll€who€profess€godliness€are€under€the€mostĻsacred€obligation€to€guard€the€spirit,€and€to€exercise€self€control€under€the€greatest€provocation.€€TheĻburdens€placed€upon€Moses€were€very€great;€few€men€will€ever€be€so€severely€tried€as€he€was;€yetĻthis€was€not€allowed€to€excuse€his€sin.€€God€has€made€ample€provision€for€His€people;€and€if€theyĻrely€upon€His€strength€they€will€never€become€the€sport€of€circumstances.€€The€strongest€temptationĻcannot€excuse€sin.€€However€great€the€pressure€brought€to€bear€upon€the€soul,€transgression€is€ourĻown€act.€€It€is€not€in€the€power€of€earth€or€hell€to€compel€anyone€to€do€evil.€€Satan€attacks€us€at€ourĻweak€points,€but€we€need€not€be€overcome.€€However€severe€or€unexpected€the€assault,€God€hasĻprovided€help€for€us€and€in€His€strength€we€may€conqueršš€(ņņPatriarchs€and€Prophetsóó,€p.€421).Š ¶  Šą  ąMoses€continued€to€lead€the€people€of€Israel€during€this€third€forty„year€period€of€his€lifeĻš"šright€up€to€the€borders€of€the€land€of€Canaanš"šknowing€that€he€would€never€have€the€privilege€ofĻentering€that€land€with€them.Ģņ ņMosesšš€Last€Cautions€and€Admonitionsó óŠ g Šą  ąAfter€serving€God€and€his€people€so€faithfully€Moses,€€now€120€years€old,€was€near€the€endĻof€his€life.€€He€pleaded€with€God€to€let€him€go€over€into€the€Promised€Land,€but€God€said€to€him,Ļš šDonššt€even€talk€to€me€about€it.€€You€will€not€go€over.šš€€God€had€forgiven€Moses€that€one€sin,€butĻHis€judgment€was€that€Moses€could€not€be€permitted€to€go€over€into€the€Promised€Land.€€Ģą  ąSo€Moses€gathered€all€the€children€of€Israel€together€and€reviewed€Godššs€leadership.€€HeĻrehearsed€the€history€of€Israelššs€deliverance€from€Egypt€until€that€moment€(Deut.€4„6;€ņņPatriarchsŠ k& Šand€Prophets,€óópp.€462„468).€€He€reminded€the€Israelites€that€they€were€not€chosen€because€of€theirŠ zŹ( Šnumber€or€because€they€were€better€than€other€people€(Deut.€7:7„9).€€He€closed€his€admonitions€withĻthese€words,€š šI€am€now€giving€you€the€choice€between€life€and€death,€between€Godššs€blessing€andĻGodššs€curse,€and€I€call€heaven€and€earth€to€witness€the€choice€you€make.€€Choose€life.€€Love€theĻLord€your€God,€obey€him€and€be€faithful€to€him,€and€then€you€and€your€descendants€will€live€long€inĻthe€land€that€he€promised€to€give€your€ancestors,€Abraham,€Isaac,€and€Jacobšš€€(Deut.€30:19,€20).Ģņ ņProphetic€FulfillmentŠ ‡'×"4 Šą  ąó óIn€spite€of€all€the€warnings€and€admonitions€that€Moses€had€left€with€them,€still€IsraelššsŠ Ż(-$6 Šobedience€was€fitful€and€wavering.€€Even€so,€God€continued€to€work€marvelously€for€them€under€theĻcontinued€leadership€of€Joshua,€the€judges,€and€the€kings€that€followed.€€Many€were€the€repeatedŠ ‰+Ł&: Šadmonitions€for€them€to€serve€God,€change€their€rebellious€spirit€and€forget€not€the€commandmentsĻand€the€statutes€and€the€teachings€that€they€had€received€in€the€past.€€Whenever€they€repented,€GodĻblessed€them.€€When€they€strayed€away,€He€allowed€them€to€become€victims€of€the€oppressors.€ĻGodššs€prophets€brought€them€messages€of€reproof€and€rebuke€and€encouragement.€€Sometimes€theyĻlistened,€but€most€times€they€did€not.€€Ģą  ąStephen,€the€first€Christian€martyr,€summed€up€the€situation€in€these€words:€€š šYe€stiffed„¼necked€and€Ō_ŌuncircumcisedŌ_Ō€in€heart€and€ears,€ye€do€always€resist€the€Holy€Ghost:€as€your€fathers€did,Ļso€do€ye.€€Which€of€the€prophets€have€not€your€fathers€persecuted?€€and€they€have€slain€them€whichĻŌ_ŌshewedŌ_Ō€before€of€the€coming€of€the€Just€One;€of€whom€ye€have€been€now€the€betrayers€andĻmurderers:€who€have€received€the€law€by€the€disposition€of€angels,€and€have€not€kept€itšš€ń7ń€ń7ń(Acts€7:51„¼53).€€This€is€a€harsh,€bluntń8ń,ń8ń€assessment€of€the€situation€for€which€Stephen€gave€his€life€as€the€reactionĻof€the€crowd€became€violent€at€his€words.€Ģą  ąIsrael€rejected€the€Messiah€when€He€came€to€them€(Matt.€27:25).€€They€expected€Him€toĻcome€as€a€mighty€prince€to€break€the€power€of€the€Romans,€as€a€great€conqueror€like€the€lion€of€theĻtribe€of€Judah.€€They€expected€Him€to€reign€as€a€mighty€world€king€and€to€make€Judea€an€earthlyĻparadise.€€The€Messiah€who€came€did€not€fit€their€preconceived€notions.Ģą  ąBut€while€the€Jewish€people€as€a€nation€rejected€the€Messiah,€yet€a€remnant€will€be€savedĻfrom€out€of€the€Jewish€nation€(ņņThe€Acts€of€the€Apostlesń9ń.ń9ńń:ń,ń:ńóó€p.€380;€John€1:12,€Rom.€11:5,€6).€€TodayŠ f¶" Šsalvation€is€open€for€both€Jews€and€Gentiles€(Acts€18:5,€6;€13:46,€47),€so€that€all€can€become€theĻchildren€of€God,€the€Israel€of€God€(Gal.€3:26„29).Ģņ ņWarnings€of€Mosesó óŠ qĮ( Šą  ąThe€warnings€of€Moses€apply€to€Godššs€people€today.€€Just€as€God€chose€Moses€to€be€HisĻprophetic€leader€of€the€Exodus€movement€from€Egypt€to€Canaan,€so€we€believe€that€the€AdventĻmovement€has€been€called€out€by€God€to€lead€a€people€from€spiritual€Egypt€to€heavenly€Canaan.€ĻOur€Fundamental€Belief€Number€17,€on€the€gift€of€prophecy,€states:€š šOne€of€the€gifts€of€the€HolyĻSpirit€is€prophecy.€€This€gift€is€an€identifying€mark€of€the€remnant€church€and€was€manifested€in€theĻministry€of€Ellen€G.€White.€€As€the€Lordššs€messenger,€her€writings€are€a€continuing€andĻauthoritative€source€of€truth€which€provide€for€the€church€comfort,€guidance,€instruction€andĻcorrection.€€They€also€make€clear€that€the€Bible€is€the€standard€by€which€all€teaching€and€experienceĻmust€be€tested€.ń;ńššń;ń€(Joel€2:28,€29,€Acts€2:14„21,€Heb.1:1„3,€Rev.€12:17;€19:10.)ń<ń€ń<ńń>ńń=ń"ń=ńń>ńń?ńššń?ńń<ń€ń<ńŠ w+Ē&: Šņ ņThe€Gift€of€ProphecyŠ ° Šó ó€ą  ąThe€gift€of€prophecy€was€extant€in€the€New€Testament€church,€for€our€Lord€had€promised€it€Š V Š(Matt.€23:34,€€Luke€11:49).€€God€had€promised€to€pour€out€His€Spirit€upon€all€flesh.€€The€apostlesĻaccepted€this€(Acts€2:17,€18),€and€Peter€declared€it€to€be€so€in€his€sermon€on€the€day€of€Pentecost.€Ģą  ąThere€were€prophets€in€the€early€church.€€Acts€11:27€says,€š šAnd€in€these€days€came€prophetsĻfrom€Jerusalem€unto€Antioch.šš€€Also,€Acts€13:1€states,€š šThere€were€in€the€church€that€was€atĻAntioch€certain€prophets€and€teachers,šš€and€it€lists€some€of€them.€€And€again€in€Acts€15:32€we€areĻtold€that€š šJudas€and€Silas,€being€prophets€also€themselves,€exhorted€the€brethren€with€many€words,Ļand€confirmed€them.ššĢą  ąSo€the€presence€of€prophets€in€the€New€Testament€church€was€an€established€fact.€€This€giftĻwas€to€remain€in€the€church€until€the€coming€of€Christ.€€Paul€says€in€1€Corinthians€1:6„8,€š šEven€asĻthe€testimony€of€Christ€was€confirmed€in€you:€so€that€ye€come€behind€in€no€gift;€waiting€for€theĻcoming€of€our€Lord€Jesus€Christ:€who€shall€also€confirm€you€unto€the€end,€that€ye€may€be€blamelessĻin€the€day€of€our€Lord€Jesus€Christ.šš€€So€it€is€a€mark€of€identity€in€the€remnant€church€and€is€a€giftĻassociated€with€Godššs€commandment„keeping€people.€€(Rev.€12:17;€19:10.)€Ģą  ąInņ ņ€ó óthe€book€ņņ101€Questionsóó,€Robert€W.€Olson€makes€the€following€points:€€š šIn€RevelationŠ ŗ  Š19:10€the€angel€is€quoted€as€saying€to€John€,€ššI€am€.€.€.€of€thy€brethren€that€have€the€testimony€ofĻJesus.šš€€This€phrase€is€parallel€to,€ššI€am€.€.€.€of€thy€brethren€the€prophetsšš€in€Rev.€22:9.€€In€otherĻwords,€one€who€had€the€testimony€of€Jesus€had€the€prophetic€gift.€€The€term€ššspirit€of€prophecy,šš€asĻused€in€Rev.€19:10,€must€then€apply€to€anyone€who€had€the€prophetic€gift,€including€the€angel,€John,Ļand€Johnššs€brethren.Ģą  ąš šAdventists€believe€that€Ellen€White€had€the€ššspirit€of€prophecyšš€and€commonly€use€the€termĻas€a€title,€applying€to€her€writings.€€In€the€strictest€Biblical€sense,€however€,€the€phrase€ššspirit€ofĻprophecyšš€applies€to€the€ministry€and€teachings€of€all€the€prophets,€both€ancient€and€modern.€Ģą  ąš šAccording€to€Rev.€12:17,€the€remnant€church€was€to€have€ššthe€testimony€of€Jesus€Christ.šš€ĻThis€phrase,€in€English€as€in€Greek,€can€mean€either€testimony€ņņaboutóó€Christ€or€testimony€ņņfromóóŠ &o!2 ŠChrist.€€Since€all€Christian€groups€talk€ņņabout€óóChrist€this€could€hardly€be€a€distinguishing€feature€ofŠ ~'Ī"4 ŠGodššs€true€church€in€the€last€days.€€However,€to€have€divine€communications€ņņfrom€óóChristš"šaŠ Ż(-$6 Šrenewal€of€the€prophetic€giftš"šwould€quite€easily€identify€the€true€remnant€from€other€churchĻgroups.Š ’+ā&: Šą  ąš šSeventh„day€Adventists€hold€that€the€phrase€ššthe€testimony€of€Jesusšš€in€Rev.€12:17€is€aĻreference€to€the€gift€of€prophecy€as€seen€in€the€ministry€of€Ellen€G.€White.€€This€interpretation€is€inĻharmony€with€the€meaning€of€the€phrase€in€Rev.€1:2€and€1:9šš€(ņņ101€Questions€on€the€Sanctuary€andŠ \¬ Šon€Ellen€White,óó€pp.€36,€37).Š »  Šą  ąThis€gift€therefore€also€acts€as€a€test€of€truth€(Isaiah€8:20).Ģņ ņThe€Blessings€of€the€Spirit€of€ProphecyŠ p Ą  Šą  ąó óa.€€It€gives€spiritual€eyesight,€thus€preventing€spiritual€blindness€(1€Sam.€3:1,€2;€€28:6;€Prov.Š Ę   Š29:18).Ģą  ąb.€€When€heeded€it€brings€prosperity€(2€Chron.€20:20).€€It€gives€practical€counsels€forĻChristian€living€€(Deut.€1„33,€and€E.€G.€White€books€on€Biblical€themes).Ģą  ąHow€did€Ellen€White€see€her€role?€€Here€is€what€she€says.€š šI€have€had€no€claims€to€make,Ļņņonly€that€I€am€instructed€that€I€am€the€Lordššs€messenger;€óó€that€He€called€me€in€my€youth€to€be€HisŠ tÄ Šmessenger,€to€receive€His€word,€and€to€give€a€clear€and€decided€message€in€the€name€of€the€LordĻJesus.Ģą  ąš šEarly€in€my€youth€I€was€asked€several€times,€Are€you€a€prophet?€€I€have€ever€responded,€IĻam€the€Lordššs€messenger.€€I€know€that€many€have€called€me€a€prophet,€but€I€have€made€no€claim€toĻthis€title.€€My€Saviour€declared€me€to€be€His€messenger.€€ššYour€work,šš€He€instructed€me,€ššis€to€bearĻMy€word.€€Strange€things€will€arise,€and€in€your€youth€I€set€you€apart€to€bear€the€message€to€theĻerring€ones,€to€carry€the€word€before€unbelievers,€and€with€pen€and€voice€to€reprove€from€the€WordĻactions€that€are€not€right.€€Exhort€from€the€Word.€€I€will€make€My€Word€open€to€you.€€It€shall€not€beĻas€a€strange€language.€€In€the€true€eloquence€of€simplicity,€with€voice€and€pen,€the€messages€that€IĻgive€shall€be€heard€from€one€who€has€never€learned€in€the€schools.€€My€Spirit€and€My€power€shall€beĻwith€you.Ģą  ąš šńAńššńAńBe€not€afraid€of€man,€for€My€shield€shall€protect€you.€€It€is€not€you€that€speaketh.€€It€is€theĻLord€that€giveth€the€messages€of€warning€and€reproof.€€Never€deviate€from€the€truth€ņņunder€anyŠ Ū$+ 0 Šcircumstancesóó.€€Give€theń@ń€ń@ń€light€I€shall€give€you.€€The€messages€for€these€last€days€shall€be€written€inŠ :&Š!2 Šbooks,€and€shall€stand€immortalized,€to€testify€against€those€who€have€once€rejoiced€in€the€light,€butĻwho€have€been€led€to€give€it€up€because€of€the€seductive€influences€of€evil.ššĢą  ąš šWhy€have€I€not€claimed€to€be€a€prophet?€€Because€in€these€days€many€who€boldly€claimĻthat€they€are€prophets€are€a€reproach€to€the€cause€of€Christ;€and€because€my€work€includes€muchŠ ›+ė&: Šmore€than€the€word€ššprophetšš€signifiesšš€(ņņSelected€Messages,€óóbook€1,€p.€32,€italics€supplied)ņņ.Š ° ŠÓ °X°œXÓą  ąóóFor€seventy€long€years€God€used€Ellen€G.€White€as€His€messenger€to€the€Advent€MovementŠ _ Šas€He€had€used€Moses€as€His€messenger€to€the€Exodus€Movement.€€€In€the€final€analysis,€theĻIsraelites€failed€to€heed€the€warnings.€Let€us€not€do€the€same.Ģņ ņLEST€WE€FORGETŠ  a Šó óą  ąš šBy€a€prophet€the€Lord€brought€Israel€out€of€Egypt,€and€by€a€prophet€was€he€preservedššŠ g ·  Š(Hosea€12:13).€€€What€would€have€happened€to€the€Seventh„day€Adventist€church€without€theĻguidance€of€€Ellen€G.€White?€€It€is€safe€to€say€that€without€her€guidance€as€the€messenger€from€€theĻLord€to€the€remnant€church,€the€Seventh„day€Adventist€church,€as€we€know€it€now,€would€not€exist.€Ģą  ąIn€his€book,€€ņņMessenger€of€the€Lordóó,€Herbert€E.€Douglass€quotes€Dr.€Jack€Ō_ŌProvonshaŌ_Ō€asŠ æ  Šsaying€that€ńDńš šńDńWithout€Ellen€White€there€would€be€no€Seventh„day€Adventist€church€today.ńEńššńEńńFńššńFń€€InĻreviewing€the€Adventist€movement€from€its€beginning,€Ō_ŌProvonshaŌ_Ō€asserted,€ńHńššńGń€ńGńńHńńIńš šńIńńGńńGńThey€had€their€Bible.€ĻBut€they€had€in€large€measure€that€other€ingredient€for€a€religious€movementššs€vitalityš"šthe€senseĻthat€they€had€been€called€by€God€and€that€He€was€in€their€movement!€€Had€He€not€vouchsafed€HisĻpresence€with€the€gift€of€prophetic€guidance?€€That€made€all€the€difference.€€Without€such€a€sense€atĻthe€beginning,€there€would€not€now€even€be€a€Seventh„day€Adventist€church,€at€least€one€that€made€aĻgreat€deal€of€difference€to€the€world.€€The€obvious€corollary€to€this€is€that€if€that€sense€is€ever€lost,Ļthe€church,€even€if€it€continues€to€exist€institutionally,€may€no€longer€count€where€and€in€the€wayĻthat€it€is€supposed€to€countńKńššńKńńLńššńLń€ńJń€ńJń(ņņMessenger€of€the€Lord,óó€p.€538).Š Ī$ Šą  ąDr.€Ō_ŌProvonshaŌ_Ō€then€wrote,€ńMńššńMńńNńš šńNńI€have€quoted€liberally€from€Ellen€G.€White.€€I€make€no€apologyĻfor€this.€€She€is€my€ńOńš šńOńńPńššńPńspiritualńQńššńQń€mother.ńRńššńRń€€She€has€also€been€absolutely€central€to€the€life€and€thought€ofĻAdventismšš€(ņņibidóó.).Š Ł )* Šą  ąDouglass€continues:€€š šTelling€the€story€of€the€birth€of€Israel€as€a€nation€is€impossible€withoutĻreviewing€the€work€of€Moses,€its€prophet.€€How€would€one€explain€the€Exodus€without€Moses?€OrĻMount€Sinai?€Or€why€Israel€had€to€wander€in€the€wilderness€for€forty€years?€€So€it€is€impossible€toĻtell€the€story€of€the€Seventh„day€Adventist€movement€without€interweaving€Ellen€Whiteššs€ministryĻin€the€affirmation€of€Biblical€doctrine,€in€the€building€of€a€church€organization€strong€enough€toĻsupport€a€world€church,€and€in€the€Moses„like€messages€of€reproof€and€courage€that€helped€to€shapeĻthe€character€of€the€church.€Without€her€today€it€is€probable€that€the€Adventist€Church€would€beĻonly€a€footnote€in€some€history€book€of€various€religious€groups€in€the€nineteenth€centuryšš€(ņņibidóó.).Š ’+ā&: Šņ ņCONCLUSIONó óŠ ° Šą  ąAs€Moses€pleaded€with€the€children€of€Israel€to€heed€the€counsels€and€admonitions€of€theĻLord,€so€we€plead€with€our€peopleš"šchurch€members,€institutional€leaders,€denominational€leadersĻon€all€levelsš"što€pay€heed€to€the€Word€of€God€and€to€the€counsels€that€God€has€been€pleased€to€giveĻus€through€the€writings€of€Ellen€G.€White,€His€messenger.€€We€thank€God€for€this€gift€that€seeks€toĻget€us€ready€for€the€coming€of€the€Lord,€for€š šWe€have€nothing€to€fear€for€the€future€except€as€weĻshall€forget€the€way€the€Lord€has€led€us,€and€His€teaching€in€our€past€historyšš€(ņņLife€Sketches,€óóp.€196;ņņŠ “   ŠTestimonies€to€Ministers,€óóp.€31).Š c  ŠŌ_ŌŌ‡¼3i»XX•>Ōą  ąą ` ąą ø ąĢņņńSńŌ#†X•>X»¼3išv#ŌńSńš"šElder€G.€Ralph€Thompson€currently€serves€as€Field€Representative€for€the€Ō_ŌńTńŠ W  ŠńTńEllenŌ_Ō€G.€WhiteŠ W  ŠEstate.€€He€has€served€in€a€variety€of€positions€in€the€church,€including€the€last€20€years€asĻsecretary€of€the€General€Ō_ŌConference.ńTńńSńŌ‡¼3i»XX•>ŌńSńŌ#†X•>X»¼3ix#ŌńTńņ ņŌ_ŌŠ Å Šóóó óĢĢĢą  ąą ` ą