Exodus 32:25 Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control, much to the amusement of their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, “All of you who are on the Lord’s side, come here and join me.” And all the Levites gathered around him.
27 Moses told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Each of you, take your swords and go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other. Kill everyone—even your brothers, friends, and neighbors.” 28 The Levites obeyed Moses’ command, and about 3,000 people died that day.
29 Then Moses told the Levites, “Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the Lord, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Today you have earned a blessing.”
It’s one of the most horrible scenes from the Bible. Crumpling to the strident demands of the Israelites, Aaron has created a golden calf idol. Moses returns from Mount Sinai to find the Israelites engaged in an orgy. Infuriated, Moses has thrown the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments on the ground, but now he must halt the orgy. In the distance, Moses can see enemies of the Israelites watching and sneering. Everybody knows an orgy when they see one; these people have forfeited all claims to holiness. So much for their God!
Moses knows he can’t do anything by himself, so he stands at the camp entrance and shouts for help. Immediately, all the members of Moses’ tribe of Levi rush to Moses’ side. Notice that nobody else rushes to help Moses, not even the seventy elders who previously ate the covenant meal with God. Everything was great for those seventy as long as they were being honored, but now that Moses needs support? Forget it!
There’s only one way to halt this mob, and Moses doesn’t hesitate. “27 Moses told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Each of you, take your swords and go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other. Kill everyone—even your brothers, friends, and neighbors.” 28 The Levites obeyed Moses’ command, and about 3,000 people died that day.”
This extreme measure works. The Levites move through the camp, killing all those actively involved in the orgy but leaving everyone else alone. Three thousand people is quite a large number; however, remember that Moses has led 600,000 men out of Egypt, not counting women and children, making the total population of the group between 1,500,000-2,000,000. Three thousand people would only be 0.2% or less of a total group of 1,500,000. If the Levites are concentrating on only killing those actively worshiping the golden calf, this means that the vast majority of the Israelites are not involved but are back in their tents, waiting to see how things will turn out.
Crunching the numbers, the next question is this: Assuming God is guiding the Levites, does this mean that these 3,000 people are the ones who have demanded an idol while the rest of the Israelites have remained silent? Or have the other Israelites joined in the demands for an idol but have then retreated when the orgy starts? It would seem that as Moses’ tribesmen, the Levites have not involved themselves in worshiping the golden calf. Perhaps these men know Aaron and realize how weak he actually is. At any rate, the Levites have had to sacrifice friends and neighbors, showing no mercy even as these people have begun pleading for their lives. For the rest of their lives, the Levites will be haunted by the memories of this day.
As the Levites are standing horrified at what they have had to do, Moses commends them. “29 Then Moses told the Levites, “Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the Lord, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Today you have earned a blessing.” Although the Levites did not realize it, their willingness to sacrifice those nearest and dearest to them has qualified them to become priests before the Lord forever.
Sometimes following God completely requires sacrifices we never thought we would have to make. Peter and the other disciples walked away from thriving businesses, homes, and families. Matthew 19:27-29 records the story. “Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” One man wanted to follow Jesus but had all sorts of excuses as to why he couldn’t do it immediately. Jesus told him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
We always have choices. We can choose to leave everything that would hold us back and follow God, or we can try to hang onto people, places, and things. But we will only find peace when we are willing to give up everything for the sake of the call. Millard Fuller was a businessman and lawyer who became a millionaire by age 29. But when Millard and his wife Linda felt God calling them, they gave up everything to enter lives of Christian service. Together, the Fullers founded Habitat for Humanity, an international organization that builds affordable housing for poor and disadvantaged people. Habitat has blessed millions of people throughout the world, all because a couple chose to follow Jesus radically rather than enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.
As I am writing these words, my husband and I are facing a daunting task. We are clearing the last of our belongings that have been stored in America for years. Giving away furniture, cookware, clothing, and dishes is not difficult; however, now we are struggling to sort papers and photos. Here, the struggle involves dealing with memories and reminders of loved ones, the toughest proposition of all. Which things are worth scanning and saving to the cloud? What does God want us to do?
Very few of us will ever be called on to take the same measures as the Levites or even as the Fullers. But each of us must face this question: Is there anything keeping me from getting to God? What must I give up to become close to God? As long as you are placing a higher value on whatever it is than you are on your relationship with God, you will have turmoil. When you make that last sacrifice, you will find peace. May God help each of us so that we will freely surrender those things that are blocking our relationships with Him!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives, abandoning anything that threaten our relationships with You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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