"WHO
IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE"
"And
Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said: Who is on the Lord's
side? Let him come to me"-Exodus 32:26.
Moses had led the children of Israel to Horeb, the mount of God.
Here he ascended the fiery slops to receive the "commandments
from God" and especially the "ten commandments"
contained on two tables of stone, written by the very power of
God.
During the time that Moses was in the mountain to receive the
commandments from God, the children of Israel became impatient.
They cried for a god to be made by the hands of Aaron. Aaron succumbed.
He told them to break off their golden earrings and out of these
he fashioned an idol made of gold. He declared to the people;
"Here is your god that brought you up out of Egypt."
They even set aside a day in which they would sacrifice to this
man-made idol. God told Moses to go down to the people; "For
they have made them an idol, and have worshipped it." Then,
God said of Israel; "This is a stiff-necked people!"
To be quite honest, one has to conclude that Israel was always
rebelling against God. They seemed to never be satisfied. They
always desired their own way! Does this sound familiar? Today,
people all over the world affirm their Love for God. They advertise
their faith. The Lord is well spoken of by most people. The sad
thing is that we are still determined to have our own way. We
do not like to be told how things are to be. And, if any thing
goes against our opinion, watch out! "Even God is not going
to tell me what to do"; "I know that is what the Bible
says, but you know God will let it slip through!"; such are
the ideas of modern man...sounds like ancient Israel, doesn't
it?
Moses stood in the camp and said; "Whoever is on the Lord's
side, let him come over to me." At that time, the Levites
came to Moses. Moses told them to take their sword and march throughout
the camp of Israel. That day, 3,000, of Israel died. This should
be a terrible warning to all of us. Everyone claims to be on the
Lord's side. But, listen carefully to what Jesus said:
"Why
call me, Lord, Lord, and do not what I say."-Luke 6:46.
"Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my father which is in heaven."-Matthew 7:21.
