November 2 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Exodus 32:30–35

Devotional

Moses was in severe shock when he came down from the mountain of God. He heard the singing, the shouting, and the sound of dancing; and he was furious. There was no fanaticism or lack of love when he commanded that the calf-worshippers be killed. Do not be offended because of this slaughter, for then you are offended with the justice of God. We find in this account of the Israelites nothing more than a foreshadowing of what will happen in the Day of days when the heavenly Judge Himself will come to punish forever those who hate Him.

Three thousand of the Israelites were punished with death, but they could not accuse their faithful God of any unrighteousness. The Lord is not only faithful in His promises, but also in His threats. God would not be just if He did not punish sin. In reality we might ask: Why were not many more slain? Was it enough that only three thousand fell? These three thousand were only a small part of those who bowed before the image. We read that the Levites alone remained faithful. Therefore, from among the other eleven tribes there were many more thousands left who also bowed before the golden calf.

Their guilt was still open and, therefore, Moses said to them, “Ye have sinned a great sin.” The mediator of the old covenant knew well that God was too holy to tolerate sin. What would happen now to the remaining unfaithful people? Would the anger of God be turned away now that three thousand had been punished, or would all the people who committed this sin be destroyed? Moses himself did not know; therefore he said, “And now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sins.”

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.