How strange it is that though we rejoice in the richness of the fruits of the tree of everlasting life we often forget quickly him who planted the tree. Frequently it follows that the richer the harvest and the greater the variety of fruits, the more quickly we forget and the more susceptible we become to such plights as pride and vanity. Our hearts become so hard, our ears and eyes so dull, that in order to get our attention the Lord must shout at us with such afflictions as death, terror, famine, and pestilences of all kinds.
Many become like the wayward children of Adam, of whom it is said that they “loved Satan more than God.” The text does not suggest that they had no love for God, only that they loved Satan more. They became intoxicated with wine made of the grapes of carnality, sensuality, and devilishness. (See Moses 5:13.)