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Counsels on Diet and Foods
to submit to God’s requirements, and they failed to reach the stan-
dard He had set for them, and to receive the blessings that might have
been theirs. They murmured at God’s restrictions, and lusted after the
fleshpots of Egypt. God let them have flesh, but it proved a curse to
them.—
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 118, 119, 1890
An Ensample for Us
645. “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should
not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” “Now all these things
happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admo-
nition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”—
1 Corinthians
10:6, 11
646. The church in general at Battle Creek have not sustained
the Institute by their example. They have not honored the light of
health reform by carrying it out in their families. The sickness that has
[379]
visited many families in Battle Creek need not have been, if they had
followed the light God has given them. Like ancient Israel, they have
disregarded the light, and could see no more necessity of restricting
their appetite than did ancient Israel. The children of Israel would have
flesh meats, and said, as many now say, We shall die without meat.
God gave rebellious Israel flesh, but His curse was with it. Thousands
of them died while the meat they desired was between their teeth. We
have the example of ancient Israel, and the warning for us not to do as
they did. Their history of unbelief and rebellion is left on record as a
special warning that we should not follow their example of murmuring
at God’s requirements. How can we pass on so indifferently, choosing
our own course, following the sight of our own eyes, and departing
farther and farther from God, as did the Hebrews? God cannot do great
things for His people because of their hardness of heart and sinful
unbelief.
God is no respecter of persons; but in every generation they that
fear the Lord and work righteousness are accepted of Him; while those
who are murmuring, unbelieving, and rebellious, will not have His
favor or the blessings promised to those who love the truth and walk
in it. Those who have the light and do not follow it, but disregard the
requirements of God, will find that their blessings will be changed
into curses, and their mercies into judgments. God would have us