Exodus by Elder Vernon Johnson

Exodus Chapter 32, Verses 25-29

:25 “And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) 26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. 27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. 28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. 29 For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.”

“And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)” This verse connects us back to the Garden of Eden to a time when Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed. Later after they had sinned, they tried to sew fig leaves together to hide their nakedness. God subsequently, clothed them with animal skins. This series of events teaches us that human nakedness is associated with the shame of sin. In this verse, the people were naked literally which in itself was a shame, but also because of their sins of idolatry and licentiousness they had furthered greatly their sins. These activities of the people also were cause or reason for even their enemies to consider their actions to be sinful.

“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.” When Moses made this call, it is interesting to see who answered the call and who did not answer the call. The sons of Levi answered the call. From the tribe of Levi came the priests and those who ministered about the tabernacle. They were to be closer to the service of God than those of the other tribe. These were the only ones who answered the call as to Who is on the LORD’s side. Now all the children of Israel were a part of God’s covenant people, yet the vast majority when given the opportunity at this time, deferred to answer the call. How similar this is today, when the gospel is preached, so many of the elect family of God do not answer the call to service.

“And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.” The duty placed upon the men of Levi was to destroy from among the people the most flagrant offenders. As a result three thousand men fell that day. This certainly was a strong message to the remainder of the people of the great seriousness of the sins that they had committed.

“For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.” Even during the time of great apostasy, a blessing from the Lord is bestowed upon those who consecrate themselves.

Verses 30-35

:30 “And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. 31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. 33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. 34 Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them. 35 And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.”

“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.” Moses, reminded the people that they had sinned a great sin and had need of an atonement. While, Moses could not make an atonement for their sins, only Christ could do that, yet, Moses would further intercede on their behalf.

“And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” Moses in interceding on behalf of the people unto the LORD asked God to blot his name out of the book in which God had written if he would not forgive the sin of the people. There is some question as to what book Moses was referring to. Not one of the names in the Lamb’s book of life written before the foundation of the world will ever nor can ever be blotted out of that book. I think the book to which Moses was referring was to the book of the living. I take it that Moses was requesting that God take him out of the land of the living rather than the people. That illustrates both humility and love for the people in which Moses was interceding for.

"And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” Only Christ can stand in the place of his elect people. Moses would not be allowed to stand in judgment in the place of God’s judgment upon His people. When timely judgments come upon God’s people because of sin, God will mete out that timely judgment upon the sinner.

“Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.” This tells us that God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was still going to be fulfilled, though the people had sinned a great sin. Moreover, Moses was instructed to continue to lead the people unto the place of which God had spoken. Moreover, God promised that His Angel would go before him to lead him in the way. Nevertheless, God would still visit upon the people punishment for their sin.

“And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.” While we are not told here exactly when that took place, yet we know that God plagued the people because of their great sin. Moreover, the LORD made it very clear that Aaron had made the calf. It did not just appear by chance, as Aaron had inferred.