Whose Side Are You On?

Introduction

This is a presidential election year. The sides are clearly drawn. If you know your history, you know this particular year is not worse than 1865 when Lincoln was called all kinds of names in the press. Or the election of 1876 when riots were in the streets. Hayes lost the popular vote and democrats conceded as long as Hayes promised to stop reconstruction in the south. This led the Democratic party to impede the right to vote for Blacks in the south and riots ensued. Or the 1880 election in which James Garfield was elected and assassinated a year or so later. The 1880 election was a rehashing of the civil war. It was believed that if the Democratic candidate won, he would allow a Southern uprising again. The South got behind the Democratic candidate in droves. And the expression of support for both candidates was intensely personal at times. During all of this time there was a depression. Mix politics with a poor economy and things get interesting. When people say this is the worst its ever been they clearly do not know their history.

Here’s the point. Lots of things distract us. During a presidential election year, we can find ourselves very concerned about the outcome. So concerned that we forget what our real purpose is. Our study today will remind us that our purpose is found in God. That purpose finds expression in loyalty not only to him but so that others know where our loyalty lies as well.

Consequences

Moses comes down the mountain. He knows what has been going on. Verse 19 tells us that in his anger he hurls the tablets of stone to the ground shattering them. Symbolically it demonstrates that Israel has shattered the covenant. But it also reveals that God is angry. Moses as God’s representative reveals God’s emotions to the people.

The conversation between Moses and Aaron reveals how far we all go to avoid taking responsibility for our sin. Aaron’s twists and turns to explain, excuse and elude demonstrate the human condition. We shift blame to others to avoid taking responsibility for our sin. We alter the truth so that we don’t have to deal with consequences. We try to appease because we can’t accept the emotional content of displeasure from someone else. Rarely easy to admit one’s sin. Rarely easy to absorb the righteous anger from another. Rarely easy to admit with accuracy and truthfulness that we messed up. Aaron is one of the leaders. One of the 74 that went up the mountain. He will be Israel’s first high priest. The beauty of the Bible is it does not sugar coat the truth about human frailty. We all have feet of clay. And Aaron falls apart.

Verse 26, it is time for repentance. While the word is never used, it is clear that Moses is calling on people to have a change of heart. The Levites — Moses and Aaron’s tribe — quickly come to Moses’ side. They align with God. Do not believe for a moment that the Levites had stood their spiritual ground during this time of worship. But they are the first to join Moses and realign with God. So not only has Moses contaminated their water supply with the dust from the idol (v. 20) but now he gives very clear instructions. The Levites are to go through the camp discovering who is on God’s side. Preserve the life of those who repent and kill those who do not. 3000 die.

Do you think it is too strong a reaction? Is there a part of you thinking “where is grace?” Do you have a hard time liking God right now? So let me ask you — what do you think should have been done? How would you have dealt with those who just 40 days prior had agreed to the covenant? Whatever answer you come up with, then ask yourself this last question — how would your solution have fixed the problem?

God doesn’t need defending here. But let’s go back to Exodus 20:4-6. What did God say about himself and his expectations? Go back to Exodus 19:6. God describes his desire for Israel to be his holy nation revealing his character to the other nations. How does Exodus 32:25 describe the effect of this idolatry on other nations? Laughingstock to their enemies. God doesn’t need defending. The people need to defend their actions. The people need to explain their lack of loyalty. This is what sin does. It pushes our loyalty away from God toward another. This is idolatry. So where is grace? Verse 34. Go lead the people to the promised land. My angel will go before you. God is going to keep his promise for those who want to be loyal to him. This is grace. In 32:10, God was ready to destroy them all. This is grace.

So whose side are you on? I’m on God’s side you say. How do you demonstrate that? What do your words suggest? What do your actions suggest? We get so easily distracted. Frank pointed out last week that in such a short time Israel forgot about their promises and that we do the same thing. We allow our vision to be blurred by this world.

We feel the political climate and we take our eyes off of God. We feel the uncertainty of health and we make the vaccine our god. We experience inner turmoil and we think God has abandoned us. Is our faith based on things going well? Israel watched Moses ascend the mountain and it looked like a consuming fire from their vantage point but for Moses it was cloud (24:15ff). More than a cloud it was the glory of the Lord.

Have you ever thought that the unrest in our nation, the political divide in our culture, the injustice that we see is the prime opportunity for us to point to the glory of the Lord rather than the consuming fire? Take your eyes off of this earthly plain and lift it to the top of the mountain. We live in a world where the effects of sin are rampant. But we are on God’s side. Our words do not divide they unite. Our actions are not reactions but actions that are consistent with our faith. We point people to a higher good and a higher way of thinking.

If we were to ask your co-workers about what was important to you, how would they answer? If we were to ask your friends, to describe your values, what would be the answer? If you walked into Israel’s camp 40 days after the covenant had been agreed upon, what would you believe was true about their loyalty to God? What would your friends, neighbors, and co-workers know is true about your loyalty to God? Whose side are you on?

Follow Jesus

If you’d like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.