7. How did God treat this forgetful and rebellious people? Deuteronomy 1:31.
NOTE: ‘“When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called My son out of Egypt.” “I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by the arms; but they knew not that I healed them.” Hosea 11:1, 3. Moses said to Israel just before they went into Canaan: “Thou hast seen how that the Lord thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came to this place.” Deuteronomy 1:31. The record of the dealings of God with Israel is designed to teach us that we are but little children in God’s sight, and that, if we willingly yield ourselves to His power and wisdom, He will increase our strength even as He does that of the little child, and will teach us how to walk uprightly both physically and spiritually. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go.”’ E. J. Waggoner: Present Truth, January 16, 1902.
8. What images does Moses use to describe God’s care for His people, despite their attitude towards Him? Deuteronomy 32:9-11.
NOTE: ‘In Deuteronomy 32:11, we are told what the mother eagle does when the time comes for the eaglets to leave the nest and learn to fly. First she “stirreth up her nest,” and makes it so uncomfortable that the young ones will want to leave it. Then she “fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings.” When the young birds get so tired that they cannot fly any higher, nor even hold themselves up in the air, the mother flies down underneath them and, catching them on her own strong wings, bears them up in safety between her shoulders. In this way our Heavenly Father is teaching us how carefully and tenderly He is watching His children to see when they are tired, and to keep them from falling He says of His people that He “bare them on eagles’ wings,” and brought them unto Himself. So let us never be afraid, but always remember that “underneath are the everlasting arms” upon which we may rest in peace and safety. And “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.”’ E. J. Waggoner: Present Truth, November 24, 1898.