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               But instead of assuming the leadership role among the nations by keeping
               YEHOVAH’s commandments, they followed the ways and customs of the
               pagan  nations around  them! They  utterly failed to become  a "kingdom of
               priests" and a "holy nation" (Exodus 19:5-6) and an example for the world
               to follow. But  why? Wasn’t it possible for  them to obey YEHOVAH God?
               The answer to this question brings us to the crux of this lesson!


               2. What is the heart,  or mind, of man described as? Jeremiah 17:9. Is it
               possible for carnal man, without a large measure of YEHOVAH’s spirit, to
               submit to YEHOVAH’s Law? Romans 8:7.


               3. And is it at all possible for one without a measure of YEHOVAH’s spirit to
               really understand spiritual knowledge -- which includes the spiritual princi-
               ples of YEHOVAH God’s laws? I Corinthians 2:9-11, 14.


               COMMENT: Adamic man’s nature can be very sinful without YEHOVAH’s
               spirit (Galatians 5:19-21).

               4. Is this because Satan, the god of this world, "broadcasts" his nature --
               his attitudes  of sin  -- to the minds of  all those  descended from Israel? (II

               Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2).

               COMMENT:  Israel as a  whole  was not offered  a large measure of
               YEHOVAH’s spirit. Only their prophets and divinely appointed leaders were
               given the  holy  spirit in large measure  (Numbers 14:24; I Peter 1:10-
               11). Thus the Israelites did not resist Satan and submit to YEHOVAH God.


               Ancient  Israel  did  not realize their lack of  YEHOVAH’s power  when they
               agreed to the terms of the Old Covenant. They desperately needed spiritual
               help, but didn’t realize it. They even had great difficulty in keeping the letter
               of the law! Without a large measure of YEHOVAH’s spirit, Israel was also
               limited  to  the  acquisition  and  understanding  of  material  knowledge,  even
               though  YEHOVAH  gave  them knowledge of His spiritual laws. Thus  they
               could not comprehend, let alone obey, the spiritual intent  of  YEHOVAH
               God’s Law!


               Recall that Adam and Eve had also been instructed by YEHOVAH God in
               His way. But,  they too rejected it, and turned to the  way of self-
               centeredness -- of vanity, lust, and greed -- of jealousy and envy -- of com-
               petition and strife.


               5.  Did  YEHOVAH  God  realize,  when  He  made  the  covenant  with  Israel,
               that the people would not be able to keep it? Deuteronomy 5:28-29.


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