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authority； executing the sentence of the King of heaven。 Men are to beware
how they； in their human blindness； judge and condemn their fellow men； but
when God commands them to execute His sentence upon iniquity； He is to be
obeyed。 Those who performed this painful act； thus manifested their
abhorrence of rebellion and idolatry； and consecrated themselves more fully
to the service of the true God。 The Lord honored their faithfulness by
bestowing special distinction upon the tribe of Levi。
The Israelites had been guilty of treason； and that against a King who had
loaded them with benefits and whose authority they had voluntarily pledged
themselves to obey。 That the divine
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government might be maintained justice must be visited upon the traitors。
Yet even here God's mercy was displayed。 While He maintained His law； He
granted freedom of choice and opportunity for repentance to all。 Only those
were cut off who persisted in rebellion。
It was necessary that this sin should be punished； as a testimony to
surrounding nations of God's displeasure against idolatry。 By executing
justice upon the guilty； Moses； as God's instrument； must leave on record a
solemn and public protest against their crime。 As the Israelites should
hereafter condemn the idolatry of the neighboring tribes； their 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
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for the good of 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 was to be
cut off。 Pitying their distress； Moses promised to plead once more with God
for them。
〃Ye have sinned a great sin；〃 he said； 〃and now I will go up unto the Lord；
peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin。〃 He went； and in his
confession before God he said； 〃Oh； this people have sinned a great sin； and
have made them gods of gold。 Yet now if Thou wilt forgive their sin； and
if not； blot me； I pray Thee； out of Thy book which Thou hast written。〃 The
answer was； 〃Whosoever hath sinned against Me； him will I blot out of My
book。 Therefore now go； lead the people into 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。〃
In the prayer of Moses our minds are directed to the heavenly records in
which the names of all men are inscribed； and their deeds； whether good or
evil； are faithfully registered。 The book of life contains the names of all
who have ever entered the service of God。 If any of these depart from Him；
and by stubborn persistence in sin become finally hardened against the
influences of His Holy Spirit； their names will in the judgment be blotted
from the book of life； and they themselves will be devoted to destruction。
Moses realized how dreadful would be the fate of the sinner； yet if the
people of Israel were to be rejected by the Lord； he desired his name to be
blotted out with theirs； he could not endure to see the judgments of God
fall upon those who had been so graciously delivered。 The intercession of
Moses in behalf of Israel illustrates the mediation of Christ for sinful
men。 But the Lord did not permit Moses to bear； as did Christ； the guilt of
the transgressor。 〃Whosoever
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hath sinned against Me；〃 He said； 〃him will I blot out of My book。〃
In deep sadness the people had buried their dead。 Three thousand had fallen
by the sword； a plague had soon after broken out in the encampment； and now
the message came to them that the divine Presence would no longer accompany
them in their journeyings。 Jehovah had declared； 〃I will not go up in the
midst of thee； for thou art a stiffnecked people： lest I consume thee in the
way。〃 And the command was given； 〃Put off thy ornaments from thee； that I
may know what to do unto thee。〃 Now there was mourning throughout the
encampment。 In penitence and humiliation 〃the children of Israel stripped
themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb。〃
By the divine direction the tent that had served as a temporary place of
worship was removed 〃afar off from the camp。〃 This was still further
evidence that God had withdrawn His presence from them。 He would reveal
Himself to Moses； but not to such a people。 The rebuke was keenly felt； and
to the conscience…smitten multitudes it seemed a foreboding of greater
calamity。 Had not the Lord separated Moses from the camp that He might
utterly destroy them？ But they were not left without hope。 The tent was
pitched without the encampment； but Moses called it 〃the tabernacle of the
congregation。〃 All who were truly penitent； and desired to return to the
Lord； were directed to