Idolatry at Sinai
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enemies would throw back upon them the charge that the people who
claimed Jehovah as their God had made a calf and worshiped it in
Horeb. Then though compelled to acknowledge the disgraceful truth,
Israel could point to the terrible fate of the transgressors, as evidence
that their sin had not been sanctioned or excused.
Love no less than justice demanded that for this sin judgment
should be inflicted. God is the guardian as well as the sovereign of
His people. He cuts off those who are determined upon rebellion, that
they may not lead others to ruin. In sparing the life of Cain, God had
demonstrated to the universe what would be the result of permitting
sin to go unpunished. The influence exerted upon his descendants
by his life and teaching led to the state of corruption that demanded
the destruction of the whole world by a flood. The history of the
antediluvians testifies that long life is not a blessing to the sinner;
God’s great forbearance did not repress their wickedness. The longer
men lived, the more corrupt they became.
So with the apostasy at Sinai. Unless punishment had been speedily
visited upon transgression, the same results would again have been
seen. The earth would have become as corrupt as in the days of
Noah. Had these transgressors been spared, evils would have followed,
greater than resulted from sparing the life of Cain. It was the mercy of
God that thousands should suffer, to prevent the necessity of visiting
judgments upon millions. In order to save the many, He must punish
the few. Furthermore, as the people had cast off their allegiance to God,
they had forfeited the divine protection, and, deprived of their defense,
the whole nation was exposed to the power of their enemies. Had not
the evil been promptly put away, they would soon have fallen a prey
to their numerous and powerful foes. It was necessary for the good of
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Israel, and also as a lesson to all succeeding generations, that crime
should be promptly punished. And it was no less a mercy to the sinners
themselves that they should be cut short in their evil course. Had their
life been spared, the same spirit that led them to rebel against God
would have been manifested in hatred and strife among themselves,
and they would eventually have destroyed one another. It was in love
to the world, in love to Israel, and even to the transgressors, that crime
was punished with swift and terrible severity.
As the people were roused to see the enormity of their guilt, terror
pervaded the entire encampment. It was feared that every offender