Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

March 24, 1881
The Last Words of Moses
In all the dealings of God with his people there is, mingled with his love
and mercy, a striking exactness and firmness of decision. This is clearly
exemplified in the history of the Hebrew people. God had bestowed great
blessings upon Israel. His loving-kindness toward them is thus touchingly
portrayed by his own hand: "As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over
her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her
wings, so the Lord alone did lead them." And yet what swift and severe
retribution was visited upon them for their transgressions. How, then, can
sinners in any age hope to escape the wrath of God?
Again, more wonderful than his mercy toward Israel is the love which
Christ has manifested in his infinite sacrifice to redeem a lost race. His
earthly life was filled with deeds of divine tenderness and compassion. And
yet Christ himself plainly declares, "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or
one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled." While he
tells us of the love of God, he also pictures the awful scenes of the Judgment
and the retribution that shall be visited upon the wicked. In all the Bible, God
is presented not only as a being of mercy and benevolence, but as a God of
strict and impartial justice.
The great Ruler of nations had declared that Moses was not to lead the
congregation of Israel into the goodly land, and all the earnest pleadings of
God's servant could not secure a remission of his sentence. He knew that he
must die. Yet he had not for a moment faltered in his interest and care for
Israel. He had faithfully sought to prepare the congregation to enter upon the
promised inheritance, and had repeated before them the law of God, and his
wonderful dealings with them as a people. He would in every possible way
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