GOD'S ETERNAL LAW

The law of God existed before God created people. The angels were ruled by the law of God. Satan became a sinner by breaking the basic rules of God's government. After Adam and Eve were created, God gave them His law . God's law was not written out at that time, but God told Adam and Eve what His laws were.SRme 1.614

The Sabbath of the fourth commandment was begun in Eden. As soon as God had made the world and created people, He made the Sabbath for them. After Adam's sin, the law was not changed. Nothing was taken away from the law of God. The principles of the Ten Commandments existed before sin started. These principles were perfect to guide the lives of holy beings. After Adam sinned, the principles were not changed. But after sin additional laws were given to help people who now lived in a sinful situation.SRme 1.615

The serpent in Eden told Eve that death would not be the result of disobeying God. But when God told people to sacrifice animals, which meant putting them to death, the people began to realize that death did result from not obeying God. God's law had been broken so now Christ must die as our sacrifice. Christ's death made it possible for people to escape the death penalty, but God could still protect the sacred nature of His law.SRme 1.616

Offering animals as a sacrifice made people humbly aware of their sinful condition. This kind of sacrifice was to lead them to repent and to help them learn to trust in God alone. Forgiveness would come through the promised Redeemer, Jesus. If the law of God had not been disobeyed, there never would have been death, and no additional laws would have been needed to meet people's sinful condition.SRme 1.617

Adam taught his descendants the law of God. Then Adam's descendants taught the law of God to their children. The faithful people of each generation passed on the law to the next generation. Continually disobeying God's law made the Flood necessary. But Noah and his family obeyed the law. They were saved in the ark by a miracle of God. Noah taught his descendants the Ten Commandments.SRme 1.618

Ever since Adam's time the Lord has had a people who have obeyed His law. God has it written His law in man's heart. God said, "'Abraham obeyed Me and kept all My laws and commands'" (Gen. 26:5).SRme 1.619

The Lord appeared to Abraham and said, "'I am the Almighty God. Obey Me and always do what is right. I will make My covenant with you and give you many descendants. . . .I will keep My promise to you and to your descendants in future generations as an everlasting covenant. I will be your God and the God of your descendants'" (Gen. 17:1, 2, 7).SRme 1.620

God then commanded Abraham and his descendants to be circumcised. Circumcision, which cuts a circle in the flesh, was a sign that God had separated Abraham's descendants from all other nations. Abraham's descendants were to be God's special people. By using the sign of circumcision Abraham's descendants promised the Lord that they would not marry people of other nations. God's people knew if they to married people who worshiped idols, they would lose their love for God and His holy law. They would become like the idol-worshiping nations around them.SRme 1.621

The Israelites solemnly agreed to fulfill their part of the conditions of the agreement God made with Abraham. They promised to follow the custom of circumcision, to be separate from all nations, and to be perfect.SRme 1.622

If Abraham's descendants had kept separate from other nations they would not have been led into idol worship. Keeping separate from other nations would have kept them from the great temptation to join in the sinful acts of other people and to rebel against God. By associating with the nations around them, Abraham's descendants lost much of their special, holy character.SRme 1.623

The Lord punished Abraham's descendants by bringing a famine and great hunger upon their land. This forced them to go to Egypt to save their lives. But God did not forget them and leave them on their own while they were in Egypt. God remembered His covenant and promises to Abraham. God allowed the people to become slaves to the Egyptians so they might think of God andSRme 1.624

follow Him again. God was doing what He could to lead His people to accept His righteous and merciful government, and to obey His laws.SRme 1.625

Only a few families of Israelites went into Egypt. But in Egypt they became a large number of people. Some Israelite parents carefully taught their children God's law. But many Israelites saw so much idol worship that they had confused ideas about God's law.SRme 1.626

In their sorrow, those who loved and worshiped God prayed to Him to save them from Egyptian slavery so they might be free to serve Him. God heard the Israelites' prayers and sent Moses to deliver them. After the Israelites left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea miraculously, God tested them to see if they would trust Him. But they failed the tests. The Israelites complained against God because of the difficulties they had in their travels. They said they wanted to return to Egypt.SRme 1.627