God Orders 3000 People Killed

Topic: Consequences
Passage: Exodus 32:25–35

October 30, 2022

Commentary

Moses knew that the Israelites were out of control and it was Aaron’s fault (v. 25). The people had cast off all restraints. Moses realized that decisive action was required, so he challenged the people by standing at the gate and shouting, “Everyone who is on the Lord’s side come over here” (v. 26). The Levites who chose to follow God were commanded to strap on their swords and go through the camp killing everyone (v. 27). This was not the command of a prophet but of a holy God. The Levite men followed His orders and that day killed about 3000 people (v.28) who had to pay the consequences of their stiff-neckedness (Acts 2:41). Moses told them that they had done what was right by obeying the Lord so He will make them His priests (v. 29). 

Even though the people had repented, atonement for their sin was still needed. Moses felt sorry for them, so he promised to go to the Lord and see if something could be done to keep them from being punished (v, 30). Moses went to the Lord again and begged Him to forgive them, in spite of the terrible things they had done (v. 31). He even said, “If you don’t, please wipe my name out of your book” (v. 32). Moses offer was refused by the Lord who said, “I will wipe out of my book the name of everyone who has sinned against me (v. 33), and when the time comes, I will punish them for this sin” (v. 34). As a result, the Lord punished the people of Israel with a terrible disease for talking Aaron into making the gold idol (v. 35).

Application

I can never thank Jesus enough for forgiving me, loving me, and saving me eternally and I pray that I will never do anything to bring reproach to His name.

Exodus 32:25– 35 (NET)

25 Moses saw that the people were running wild, for Aaron had let them get completely out of control, causing derision from their enemies. 26 So Moses stood at the entrance of the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” All the Levites gathered around him, 27 and he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has said ‘Each man fasten his sword on his side, and go back and forth from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and each one kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’”

28 The Levites did what Moses ordered, and that day about 3,000 men of the people died. 29 Moses said, “You have been consecrated today for the Lord, for each of you was against his son or against his brother, so he has given a blessing to you today.”

30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a very serious sin, but now I will go up to the Lord—perhaps I can make atonement on behalf of your sin.”

31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has committed a very serious sin, and they have made for themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, if you will forgive their sin…, but if not, wipe me out from your book that you have written.” 33 The Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me—that person I will wipe out of my book. 34 So now go, lead the people to the place I have spoken to you about. See, my angel will go before you. But on the day that I punish, I will indeed punish them for their sin.”

35 And the Lord sent a plague on the people because they had made the calf —the one Aaron made.