After the Lord God had finished speaking with Moses for forty days and forty nights, ... He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. (Exodus 31:18) Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” (Exodus 32:1)
The Lord God knew what the people were doing and warned Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.” Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God,... So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people. (Exodus 32:9-14) So Moses has been warned, and he and Joshua head down the mountain back to the camp.
And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” But he said: “It is not the noise of the shout of victory, nor the noise of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing I hear.” So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses’ anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. Then he took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it. (Exodus 32:17-20) The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,... (Proverbs 14:14) Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,And be filled to the full with their own fancies. (Proverbs 1:31) And that was literally the case here!
And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?” So Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, ‘Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.” (Exodus 32:21-24) Evolution, from nothing came something! It didn't make since back then either.
Remember, when the people started wining and complaining about Moses being gone fore so long, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” (Exodus 32:1-4)
So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.” Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. (Exodus 32:5-6) Aaron took his time to fashion it with an engraving tool, and make a molded calf, and to built an altar before it. The people just asked him to make them gods that shall go before them; he's the one that proclaimed they have a feast to the "Lord", but not to the Lord God Who really delivered them from Egypt, but to the graven image he made.
Remember, when the people started wining and complaining about Moses being gone fore so long, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” (Exodus 32:1-4)
So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.” Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. (Exodus 32:5-6) Aaron took his time to fashion it with an engraving tool, and make a molded calf, and to built an altar before it. The people just asked him to make them gods that shall go before them; he's the one that proclaimed they have a feast to the "Lord", but not to the Lord God Who really delivered them from Egypt, but to the graven image he made.
Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies), 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. And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’” So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day. Then Moses said, “Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother.” (Exodus 32:25-29)
Many interesting things to note from this passage. Of all the twelve tribes, Levi gathered themselves together to him. Their forefather, Levi's name meant "attached" (Genesis 29:34), and that's exactly what his descendants were doing now, attaching themselves to Moses. When Levi was older and his sister, Dinah was raped, it was he and his brother Simeon that took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males. (Genesis 34:25) And when Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:... (Genesis 49:1) He said to Levi and Simeon, “Simeon and Levi are brothers;Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. Let not my soul enter their council; let not my honor be united to their assembly; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel." (Genesis 49:5-7)
Based on their heritage, we shouldn't be too surprised that the descendants of Levi were the one's who came forward to execute the children of Israel who had sinned against the Lord God. Remember, the Lord God was very clear in His first two commandments, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments." (Exodus 20:2-6)
The Lord God had promised them also, "‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’" (Exodus 19:4-6) Well, if He would take care of them for obeying Him voice and keeping His covenants, then surely He would punish them severely for disobeying and not keeping. It's not like the people didn't know, because before Moses went to the top of the mountain, the Lord God spoke the commandments and laws to them, And they said, “All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.” (Exodus 24:7)
People only like to think of God as being loving and only wanting to give us what we ask for, and not allowing anything bad to happen to us. Yes, God is a loving God, ...for God is love. (I John 4:8) But God is also a holy, righteous and a just God, Who is justified when He punishes us for our disobedience. Yes, there is always forgiveness for sins, but that does not necessarily eliminated the consequences of sin. When the Lord God knew what the children of Israel had done, he originally told Moses, "let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them." But because of His mercy, the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people. That's why instead of the whole nation being destroyed, only about three thousand men of the people fell that day.
Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.” (Exodus 32:30-32)
Many interesting things to note from this passage. Of all the twelve tribes, Levi gathered themselves together to him. Their forefather, Levi's name meant "attached" (Genesis 29:34), and that's exactly what his descendants were doing now, attaching themselves to Moses. When Levi was older and his sister, Dinah was raped, it was he and his brother Simeon that took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males. (Genesis 34:25) And when Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:... (Genesis 49:1) He said to Levi and Simeon, “Simeon and Levi are brothers;Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. Let not my soul enter their council; let not my honor be united to their assembly; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel." (Genesis 49:5-7)
Based on their heritage, we shouldn't be too surprised that the descendants of Levi were the one's who came forward to execute the children of Israel who had sinned against the Lord God. Remember, the Lord God was very clear in His first two commandments, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments." (Exodus 20:2-6)
The Lord God had promised them also, "‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’" (Exodus 19:4-6) Well, if He would take care of them for obeying Him voice and keeping His covenants, then surely He would punish them severely for disobeying and not keeping. It's not like the people didn't know, because before Moses went to the top of the mountain, the Lord God spoke the commandments and laws to them, And they said, “All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.” (Exodus 24:7)
People only like to think of God as being loving and only wanting to give us what we ask for, and not allowing anything bad to happen to us. Yes, God is a loving God, ...for God is love. (I John 4:8) But God is also a holy, righteous and a just God, Who is justified when He punishes us for our disobedience. Yes, there is always forgiveness for sins, but that does not necessarily eliminated the consequences of sin. When the Lord God knew what the children of Israel had done, he originally told Moses, "let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them." But because of His mercy, the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people. That's why instead of the whole nation being destroyed, only about three thousand men of the people fell that day.
Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.” (Exodus 32:30-32)
And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. Now therefore, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin.” So the Lord plagued the people because of what they did with the calf which Aaron made. (Exodus 32:33-35)
What an intercessor and mediator Moses was! But, he couldn't saved anyone who sinned against God, because he himself was a sinner. Also, the priests were from the tribe of Levi, but they couldn't save anyone either because they were sinners also. But, thanks be to God for our Savior and Lord, Christ Jesus, by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:22-25)
For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever. (Hebrews 7:26-28) AMEN!
What an intercessor and mediator Moses was! But, he couldn't saved anyone who sinned against God, because he himself was a sinner. Also, the priests were from the tribe of Levi, but they couldn't save anyone either because they were sinners also. But, thanks be to God for our Savior and Lord, Christ Jesus, by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:22-25)
For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever. (Hebrews 7:26-28) AMEN!
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