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The Beginning of the End
joined the apostasy were to take their position at the right; those
who were guilty but repentant, at the left. It was found that the tribe
of Levi had not taken part in the idolatrous worship. Many people
from among other tribes now expressed their repentance. But a large
company, mostly the “mixed multitude,” persisted in their rebellion.
In the name of “the Lord God of Israel,” Moses now commanded
those who had kept themselves clear of idolatry to take their swords
and kill all who persisted in rebellion. “And about three thousand
men of the people fell that day.” The ringleaders in wickedness were
cut off, but all who repented were spared.
People are to be careful how they judge and condemn others, but
when God commands them to execute His sentence on evil, He is to
be obeyed. Those who performed this painful act thus demonstrated
their abhorrence of rebellion and idolatry. The Lord honored their
faithfulness by bestowing special distinction on the tribe of Levi.
Justice had to be brought to the traitors, to maintain the divine
government. Yet even here God’s mercy was displayed: He granted
freedom of choice and opportunity for repentance to all. Only those
who persisted in rebellion were cut off.
Why Israel’s Idolatry Must Be Punished
It was necessary that this sin should be punished as a warning to
surrounding nations of God’s displeasure against idolatry. Whenever
the Israelites would later condemn idolatry, their enemies would
throw back the charge that the people who claimed Jehovah as their
God had made a calf and worshiped it in Horeb. Though they had to
acknowledge the disgraceful truth, Israel could point to the terrible
fate of the transgressors as evidence that their sin had not been
excused.
Love no less than justice demanded that judgment be given. God
cuts off those who are determined to rebel, that they may not lead
others to ruin. In sparing the life of Cain, God had demonstrated
the result of permitting sin to go unpunished. His life and teaching
led to the corrupt conditions that demanded the destruction of the
whole world by a flood. The history of the pre-Flood people testi-
fies that God’s great patience and restraint did not keep back their
wickedness.