01/10/2022 - EXECUTING JUSTICE

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then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the LORD’s side—come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. Exodus 32.26

One of the saddest events in Moses’ life was being warned by the Lord that the people had strayed from the true path, while he was consecrating himself to God and receiving from His hands the tablets of the Law, on which the Most High wrote with His finger the Ten Commandments. It had been 40 days and 40 nights since Moses stood in the divine presence in complete fasting. And then he had to go down to see what the Hebrews had done (Exodus 32.1-10).

Two extremes! When they were receiving the tablets on which God had written how His people were to proceed, they were taken over by the enemy, made a golden calf and prostrated before it. Moses’ brother Aaron, who was a high priest, was the one who made the idol at the request of the leaders of the families. We don’t understand how some things happened to the chosen people. Pray!

Upon seeing such impudence, in the full meaning of the word, Moses became enraged, threw the tablets of the Law and broke them. The sentence was harsh. He summoned the sons of Levi, the priestly tribe, and ordered that anyone who was of the Lord should come forward. Those responsible for the deviation – around three thousand Israelites – were killed that day. The Lord’s judgment is always serious!

Why did they leave the living and working God and turned to idols? Now, in Egypt there were gods that would not help them against the penalty carried out through Moses. Had it not been this way, the Hebrews would still be under Pharaoh’s whip. They found the weak Aaron, who set up the golden calf and perhaps, other idols to which they attributed the title of gods. What a shame! But don’t be surprised at those who don’t know the Almighty!

The Hebrews would have no better attitude, because although they had seen God’s wonders in Pharaoh’s land – most had not had a true and full encounter with the Lord. In our churches, many who claim to belong to Christ, if they do not receive the teaching of the Word to be born again, will never overcome the trials in their walk and will take the same or worse attitudes than those of the rebellious Israelites. We must teach them to know their heavenly Father! (Hosea 6.3).

When a person indulges in sin, he starts to have pitiful attitudes, because he doesn’t discern wrong from right. On that day, the Israelites stripped themselves of all shame in honor of the golden calf: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt! (Exodus 32.8). Shameful!

We do not know if it was only the men who acted like this. We do know that almost everyone participated in the feast of the flesh, leading Moses to order that those responsible be put to death. Here is the warning to those who give themselves over to iniquity: Judgment will be without mercy (Hebrews 10.28-31). Why exchange the Lord for idols, which do nothing? Strive never to leave the divine presence.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares