22
Counsels on Diet and Foods
health. He will then answer our prayer, if His name can be glorified
thereby. But let all understand that they have a work to do. God will
not work in a miraculous manner to preserve the health of persons
who are taking a sure course to make themselves sick, by their careless
inattention to the laws of health.
Those who will gratify their appetite, and then suffer because of
their intemperance, and take drugs to relieve them, may be assured that
God will not interpose to save health and life which is so recklessly
periled. The cause has produced the effect. Many, as their last resort,
follow the directions in the word of God, and request the prayers of
the elders of the church for their restoration to health. God does not
see fit to answer prayers offered in behalf of such, for He knows that
if they should be restored to health, they would again sacrifice it upon
the altar of unhealthy appetite.—
Spiritual Gifts 4a:144, 145, 1864
[
See also 713
]
A Lesson From Israel’s Failure
30. The Lord gave His word to ancient Israel, that if they would
cleave strictly to Him, and do all His requirements, He would keep
[27]
them from all the diseases such as He had brought upon the Egyptians;
but this promise was given on the condition of obedience. Had the
Israelites obeyed the instruction they received, and profited by their
advantages, they would have been the world’s object lesson of health
and prosperity. The Israelites failed of fulfilling God’s purpose, and
thus failed of receiving the blessings that might have been theirs. But
in Joseph and Daniel, in Moses and Elijah, and many others, we
have noble examples of the results of the true plan of living. Like
faithfulness today will produce like results. To us it is written, “Ye are a
chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people;
that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out
of darkness into His marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2:9
.—
Testimonies for
the Church 9:165, 1909
31. Had the Israelites obeyed the instruction they received, and
profited by their advantages, they would have been the world’s object
lesson of health and prosperity. If as a people they had lived according
to God’s plan, they would have been preserved from the diseases
that afflicted other nations. Above any other people they would have