25. Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies.
26. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." And all the Levites rallied to him.
27. Then he said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.' "
28. The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died.
29. Then Moses said, "You have been set apart to the LORD today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day."
30. The next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin."
31. So Moses went back to the LORD and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold.
32. But now, please forgive their sin--but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written."
33. The LORD replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.
34. Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin."
35. And the LORD struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made.
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1 comment:
This is the first time if the word Levites is used instead of Israelites. Levites are the only ones that enter land of Canan led by Joshua.
Verse 29 reminds me of what Jesus said for following Him, our own family members will be against us.
I do feel sorry for those who lost their lives that day. Wasn't it such short notice for them to repent? But in the end it was their free choice to choose God or themselves.
The time of punishment came earlier than I had imagined. Despite that Christ died for our sins and we have been forgiven, we must not forget the consequences of sinning.
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