按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
in the camp；〃 he said。 But Moses judged more truly the nature of the
commotion。 The sound was not that of combat； but of revelry。 〃It is not the
voice of them that shout for mastery； neither is it the voice of them that
cry for being overcome； but the noise of them that sing do I hear。〃
320
As they drew near the encampment； they beheld the people shouting and
dancing around their idol。 It was a scene of heathen riot； an imitation of
the idolatrous feasts of Egypt； but how unlike the solemn and reverent
worship of God！ Moses was overwhelmed。 He had just come from the presence of
God's glory； and though he had been warned of what was taking place； he was
unprepared for that dreadful exhibition of the degradation of Israel。 His
anger was hot。 To show his abhorrence of their crime； he threw down the
tables of stone； and they were broken in the sight of all the people； thus
signifying that as they had broken their covenant with God； so God had
broken His covenant with them。
Entering the camp； Moses passed through the crowds of revelers； and seizing
upon the idol； cast it into the fire。 He afterward ground it to powder； and
having strewed it upon the stream that descended from the mount； he made the
people drink of it。 Thus was shown the utter worthlessness of the god which
they had been worshiping。
The great leader summoned his guilty brother and sternly demanded； 〃What did
this people unto thee； that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them？〃
Aaron endeavored to shield himself by relating the clamors of the people；
that if he had not complied with their wishes； he would have been put to
death。 〃Let not the anger of my lord wax hot；〃 he said； 〃thou knowest the
people； that they are set on mischief。 For they said unto me； Make us gods；
which shall go before us： for as for this Moses； the man that brought us up
out of the land of Egypt； we wot not what is become of him。 And I said unto
them； Whosoever hath any gold； let them break it off。 So they gave it me：
then I cast it into the fire； and there came out this calf。〃 He would lead
Moses to believe that a miracle had been wroughtthat the gold had been
cast into the fire； and by supernatural power changed to a calf。 But his
excuses and prevarications were of no avail。 He was justly dealt with as the
chief offender。
The fact that Aaron had been blessed and honored so far above the people was
what made his sin so heinous。 It was Aaron 〃the saint of the Lord〃 （Psalm
106：16）； that had made the idol and announced the feast。 It was he who had
been appointed as spokesman for Moses； and concerning whom God Himself had
testified； 〃I know that he can speak well〃 （Exodus 4：14）； that had failed to
check the idolaters in their heaven…daring purpose。
323
He by whom God had wrought in bringing judgments both upon the Egyptians and
upon their gods； had heard unmoved the proclamation before the molten image；
〃These be thy gods； O Israel； which brought thee up out of the land of
Egypt。〃 It was he who had been with Moses on the mount； and had there beheld
the glory of the Lord； who had seen that in the manifestation of that glory
there was nothing of which an image could be madeit was he who had changed
that glory into the similitude of an ox。 He to whom God had committed the
government of the people in the absence of Moses； was found sanctioning
their rebellion。 〃The Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him。〃
Deuteronomy 9：20。 But in answer to the earnest intercession of Moses； his
life was spared； and in penitence and humiliation for his great sin； he was
restored to the favor of God。
If Aaron had had courage to stand for the right； irrespective of
consequences； he could have prevented that apostasy。 If he had unswervingly
maintained his own allegiance to God； if he had cited the people to the
perils of Sinai； and had reminded them of their solemn covenant with God to
obey His law； the evil would have been checked。 But his compliance with the
desires of the people and the calm assurance with which he proceeded to
carry out their plans； emboldened them to go to greater lengths in sin than
had before entered their minds。
When Moses； on returning to the camp； confronted the rebels； his severe
rebukes and the indignation he displayed in breaking the sacred tables of
the law were contrasted by the people with his brother's pleasant speech and
dignified demeanor； and their sympathies were with Aaron。 To justify
himself； Aaron endeavored to make the people responsible for his weakness in
yielding to their demand； but notwithstanding this； they were filled with
admiration of his gentleness and patience。 But God seeth not as man sees。
Aaron's yielding spirit and his desire to please had blinded his eyes to the
enormity of the crime he was sanctioning。 His course in giving his influence
to sin in Israel cost the life of thousands。 In what contrast with this was
the course of Moses； who； while faithfully executing God's judgments； showed
that the welfare of Israel was dearer to him than prosperity or honor or
life。
Of all the sins that God will punish； none are more grievous in His sight
than those that encourage others to do evil。 God
324
would have His servants prove their loyalty by faithfully rebuking
transgression； however painful the act may be。 Those who are honored with a
divine commission are not to be weak； pliant time…servers。 They are not to
aim at self…exaltation； or to shun disagreeable duties； but to perform God's
work with unswerving fidelity。
Though God had granted the prayer of Moses in sparing Israel from
destruction； their apostasy was to be signally punished。 The lawlessness and
insubordination into which Aaron had permitted them to fall； if not speedily
crushed； would run riot in wickedness； and would involve the nation in
irretrievable ruin。 By terrible severity the evil must be put away。 Standing
in the gate of the camp； Moses called to the people； 〃Who is on the Lord's
side？ let him come unto me。〃 Those who had not joined in the apostasy were
to take their position at the right of Moses； those who were guilty but
repentant； at the left。 The command was obeyed。 It was found that the tribe
of Levi had taken no part in the idolatrous worship。 From among other tribes
there were great numbers who； although they had sinned； now signified their
repentance。 But a large company； mostly of the mixed multitude that
instigated the making of the calf； stubbornly persisted in their rebellion。
In the name of 〃the Lord God of Israel；〃 Moses now commanded those upon his
right hand； who had kept themselves clear of idolatry； to gird on their
swords and slay all who persisted in rebellion。 〃And there fell of the
people that day about three thousand men。〃 Without regard to position；
kindred； or friendship； the ringleaders in wickedness were cut off； but all
who repented and humbled themselves were spared。
Those who performed this terrible work of judgment were acting by divine
authority； executing the sentence of the King of heaven。 Men are to beware
how they； in their human blindness； judge and co