When Justice Falls and Mercy Stands
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25 And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. 27 And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” 28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. 29 And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”
30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” 33 But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. 34 But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.”
35 Then the Lord sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.
Exodus 32:25-35 ESV
1. Holiness Demands Separation From Sin
Exodus 32:25 ESV - 25 And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies
Exodus 32:26 ESV - 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, "Who is on the LORD's side? Come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered around him.
Matthew 12:30 ESV - 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Exodus 32:27 ESV - 27 And he said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.'"
Acts 5:11 ESV - 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Exodus 32:28 ESV - 28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell.
Exodus 32:29 ESV - 29 And Moses said, "Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day."
Matthew 18:8-9 ESV - 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.
1 Timothy 5:20 ESV - 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
2. Justice Demands Satisfaction For Sin
Exodus 32:30-31 ESV - 30 The next day Moses said to the people, "You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin." 31 So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold.
Exodus 32:32 ESV - 32 But now, if you will forgive their sin--but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written."
Revelation 21:27 ESV - 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Romans 9:3 ESV - 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
3. God’s Justice Doesn’t Cancel His Mercy
1 Timothy 2:5 ESV - 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus
Exodus 32:33-35 ESV - 33 But the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. 34 But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them." 35 Then the LORD sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.