The Story of Patriarchs and Prophets
by Ellen G. White
Chapter 28: Idolatry at Sinai
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The fact that Aaron had been blessed and honored so far
above the people was what made his sin so heinous. It was Aaron
"the saint of the Lord" (Psalm 106:16), that had made the idol
and announced the feast. It was he who had been appointed as
spokesman for Moses, and concerning whom God Himself had
testified, "I know that he can speak well" (Exodus 4:14), that
had failed to check the idolaters in their heaven-daring purpose. [p. 323] He by whom God had wrought in bringing judgments
both upon the Egyptians and upon their gods, had heard
unmoved the proclamation before the molten image, "These be
thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of
Egypt." It was he who had been with Moses on the mount, and
had there beheld the glory of the Lord, who had seen that in the
manifestation of that glory there was nothing of which an image
could be made—it was he who had changed that glory into the
similitude of an ox. He to whom God had committed the government
of the people in the absence of Moses, was found sanctioning
their rebellion. "The Lord was very angry with Aaron
to have destroyed him." Deuteronomy 9:20. But in answer to the
earnest intercession of Moses, his life was spared; and in penitence
and humiliation for his great sin, he was restored to the
favor of God.
If Aaron had had courage to stand for the right, irrespective
of consequences, he could have prevented that apostasy. If he
had unswervingly maintained his own allegiance to God, if he had
cited the people to the perils of Sinai, and had reminded them
of their solemn covenant with God to obey His law, the evil
would have been checked. But his compliance with the desires
of the people and the calm assurance with which he proceeded
to carry out their plans, emboldened them to go to greater lengths
in sin than had before entered their minds.
When Moses, on returning to the camp, confronted the rebels,
his severe rebukes and the indignation he displayed in breaking
the sacred tables of the law were contrasted by the people with
his brother's pleasant speech and dignified demeanor, and their
sympathies were with Aaron. To justify himself, Aaron endeavored
to make the people responsible for his weakness in
yielding to their demand; but notwithstanding this, they were
filled with admiration of his gentleness and patience. But God
seeth not as man sees. Aaron's yielding spirit and his desire to
please had blinded his eyes to the enormity of the crime he was
sanctioning. His course in giving his influence to sin in Israel
cost the life of thousands. In what contrast with this was the
course of Moses, who, while faithfully executing God's judgments,
showed that the welfare of Israel was dearer to him than
prosperity or honor or life.
Of all the sins that God will punish, none are more grievous
in His sight than those that encourage others to do evil. God [p. 324] would have His servants prove their loyalty by faithfully rebuking
transgression, however painful the act may be. Those who are
honored with a divine commission are not to be weak, pliant time-servers.
They are not to aim at self-exaltation, or to shun disagreeable
duties, but to perform God's work with unswerving fidelity.
Though God had granted the prayer of Moses in sparing
Israel from destruction, their apostasy was to be signally
punished. The lawlessness and insubordination into which Aaron
had permitted them to fall, if not speedily crushed, would run
riot in wickedness, and would involve the nation in irretrievable
ruin. By terrible severity the evil must be put away. Standing
in the gate of the camp, Moses called to the people, "Who is
on the Lord's side? let him come unto me." Those who had
not joined in the apostasy were to take their position at the right
of Moses; those who were guilty but repentant, at the left. The
command was obeyed. It was found that the tribe of Levi had
taken no part in the idolatrous worship. From among other
tribes there were great numbers who, although they had sinned,
now signified their repentance. But a large company, mostly of
the mixed multitude that instigated the making of the calf,
stubbornly persisted in their rebellion. In the name of "the
Lord God of Israel," Moses now commanded those upon his
right hand, who had kept themselves clear of idolatry, to gird
on their swords and slay all who persisted in rebellion. "And
there fell of the people that day about three thousand men."
Without regard to position, kindred, or friendship, the ringleaders
in wickedness were cut off; but all who repented and humbled
themselves were spared.
Those who performed this terrible work of judgment were
acting by divine authority, executing the sentence of the King of
heaven. Men are to beware how they, in their human blindness,
judge and condemn their fellow men; but when God commands
them to execute His sentence upon iniquity, He is to be obeyed.
Those who performed this painful act, thus manifested their
abhorrence of rebellion and idolatry, and consecrated themselves
more fully to the service of the true God. The Lord
honored their faithfulness by bestowing special distinction upon
the tribe of Levi.
The Israelites had been guilty of treason, and that against a
King who had loaded them with benefits and whose authority
they had voluntarily pledged themselves to obey. That the divine [p. 325] government might be maintained justice must be visited upon
the traitors. Yet even here God's mercy was displayed. While He
maintained His law, He granted freedom of choice and opportunity
for repentance to all. Only those were cut off who persisted
in rebellion.
It was necessary that this sin should be punished, as a testimony
to surrounding nations of God's displeasure against idolatry.
By executing justice upon the guilty, Moses, as God's instrument,
must leave on record a solemn and public protest against their
crime. As the Israelites should hereafter condemn the idolatry
of the neighboring tribes, their enemies would throw back upon
them the charge that the people who claimed Jehovah as their
God had made a calf and worshiped it in Horeb. Then though
compelled to acknowledge the disgraceful truth, Israel could point
to the terrible fate of the transgressors, as evidence that their sin
had not been sanctioned or excused.
Part: A
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E
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