Early Writings
by Ellen G. White
The Transfiguration
The faith of the disciples was greatly strengthened at the
transfiguration, when they were permitted to behold Christ's glory and to hear
the voice from heaven testifying to His divine character. God chose to give the
followers of Jesus strong proof that He was the promised Messiah, that in their
bitter sorrow and disappointment at His crucifixion, they would not entirely
cast away their confidence. At the transfiguration the Lord sent Moses and
Elijah to talk with Jesus concerning His sufferings and death. Instead of
choosing angels to converse with His Son, God chose those who had themselves
experienced the trials of earth. {EW 162.1}
Elijah had walked with God. His work had been painful and
trying, for the Lord through him had reproved the sins of Israel. Elijah was a
prophet of God; yet he was compelled to flee from place to place to save his
life. His own nation hunted him like a wild beast that they might destroy him.
But God translated Elijah. Angels bore him in glory and triumph to heaven. {EW 162.2}
Moses was greater than any who had lived before him. He had
been highly honored of God, being privileged to talk with the Lord face to
face, as a man speaks with a friend. He was permitted to see the bright light
and excellent glory that enshrouded the Father. The Lord through Moses
delivered the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. Moses was a mediator
for his people, often standing between them and the wrath of God. When the
anger of the Lord was greatly kindled against Israel for their unbelief, their
murmurings, and their grievous sins, Moses' love for them was tested. God
proposed to destroy them [163] and to make of him a mighty
nation. Moses showed his love for Israel by his earnest pleading in their
behalf. In his distress he prayed God to turn from His fierce anger and forgive
Israel, or blot his name out of His book. {EW 162.3}
When Israel murmured against God and against Moses because
they could get no water, they accused him of leading them out to kill them and
their children. God heard their murmurings and bade Moses speak to the rock,
that the people might have water. Moses smote the rock in wrath and took the
glory to himself. The continual waywardness and murmuring of the children of
Israel had caused him the keenest sorrow, and for a little time he forgot how
much the Lord had borne with them, and that their murmuring was not against
him, but against God. He thought only of himself, how deeply he was wronged,
and how little gratitude they manifested in return for his deep love for them. {EW 163.1}
It was God's plan to bring often His people into strait
places, and then in their necessity to deliver them by His power, that they
might realize His love and care for them, and thus be led to serve and honor
Him. But Moses had failed to honor God and magnify His name before the people
that they might glorify Him. In this he brought upon himself the Lord's
displeasure. {EW 163.2}
When Moses came down from the mount with the two tables of
stone and saw Israel worshiping the golden calf, his anger was greatly kindled,
and he threw down the tables of stone and broke them. I saw that Moses did not
sin in this. He was wroth for God, jealous for His glory. But when he yielded
to the natural feelings of his heart and took to himself the honor which was
due to God, he sinned, and for that sin God would not suffer him to enter the
land of Canaan. [164] {EW 163.3}
Satan had been trying to find something wherewith to accuse
Moses before the angels. He exulted at his success in leading him to displease
God, and he told the angels that he could overcome the Saviour of the world
when He should come to redeem man. For his transgression, Moses came under the
power of Satan— the dominion of death. Had he remained steadfast, the
Lord would have brought him to the Promised Land, and would then have
translated him to heaven without his seeing death. {EW 164.1}
Moses passed through death, but Michael came down and gave
him life before his body had seen corruption. Satan tried to hold the body,
claiming it as his; but Michael resurrected Moses and took him to heaven. Satan
railed bitterly against God, denouncing Him as unjust in permitting his prey to
be taken from him; but Christ did not rebuke His adversary, though it was
through his temptation that the servant of God had fallen. He meekly referred
him to His Father, saying, "The Lord rebuke thee." {EW 164.2}
Jesus had told His disciples that there were some standing
with Him who should not taste of death till they should see the kingdom of God
come with power. At the transfiguration this promise was fulfilled. The
countenance of Jesus was there changed and shone like the sun. His raiment was
white and glistening. Moses was present to represent those who will be raised
from the dead at the second appearing of Jesus. And Elijah, who was translated
without seeing death, represented those who will be changed to immortality at
Christ's second coming and will be translated to heaven without seeing death.
The disciples beheld with astonishment and fear the excellent majesty of Jesus
and the cloud that overshadowed them, and heard the voice of God in terrible
majesty, saying, "This is My beloved Son; hear Him." {EW 164.3}
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