LIFE SCRIPTS

25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him. 27 Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’ ” 28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. 29 Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.” 30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” 33 The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. 34 Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.” 35 And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made.
Exodus 32:25‭-‬35 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/exo.32.25-35.NIV.

Sin always attracts dire consequences. And this scenario was no exception. People had rebelled against the God Who had delivered them from captivity. A time had therefore come for them to make a choice. Years later, the man who flanked Moses up on the mountain, Joshua would make a declaration in Joshua 24:15: …choose today whom you’ll serve…but as for me and my house, we’ll serve the LORD. Moses made the same call as he stood at the entrance of the camp. Only the Levites responded to his call. And therefore they were commissioned to institute God’s judgement among His people. That day, 3000 people lost their lives because of disobedience to God…a tragedy indeed. They had a choice placed before them…to choose between God and idolatry. Instead, they rejected God. That same type of choice is before us today…to reject or embrace Christ…to say yes or no to Him. He’s our great Intercessor. A charge that Moses bore when he proceeded up the mountain to intercede on behalf of the people. The Levite’s chose God over their brothers. The same way God places a choice for us to choose between our family and Him. But God had seen their hearts which rejected Him. But it’s good to note that the Lord didn’t act immediately. He let Moses lead them across the wilderness guided by an angel then at the right time, He sent a plague that wiped them. It seemed as if God was giving them time to repent and turn back to Him. They died because Aaron, a priest anointed by God had led them astray through idolatry. People called in God’s service are not immune to falling into sin. But when they do so, they deceive multitudes in the process. The only way back to God is through repentance.