Daily Devotions
Exodus
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness." Romans 1:18
Text: Exodus 32 : 28-30
CARRYING OUT A DIFFICULT COMMAND
Would the sons of Levi carry out this difficult command? They would have to kill people who were friends and neighbors!
“So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses.
And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.”
EXODUS 32:28
Three thousand men had remained unrepentant and rebellious. They were executed for their blatant disregard for the Law of God!
THE DEADLINESS OF SIN
The children of Israel had not fully fathomed the nature and consequences of sin! Perhaps to many, sin was just a misdeed! How wrong they were! Moses needed to teach them afresh just how wicked and deadly sin really was!
“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 32:29
1. “Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD”
Sin had caused the people to be unholy before the Lord. They would need to be consecrated to the Lord once again. (The people underwent consecration rites in preparation for God’s visit at Mount Sinai- Cf. Exodus 19).
2. “That He may bestow on you a blessing this day”
When sin prevails, the blessings of God are withdrawn! Sin must be fully repented of, or there would be no blessing! The sin of worshipping the golden calf had resulted in the death of three thousand of the children of Israel! Sin had taken a terrible toll indeed!
SEEKING ATONEMENT FOR SIN
Moses had averted the outpouring of the wrath of God upon Israel. However, as he saw the gravity of the sin situation, he knew that his intercession on Mount Sinai might not be sufficient! He must seek full forgiveness and full restoration of God’s favor!
“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 cam make atonement for your sin.'”
EXODUS 32:30
Had the children of Israel fully understood the nature and gravity of their sin? They had indeed committed “a great sin”. And “atonement” must be made before full restoration of blessing can be achieved!