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Whose Side Are You On?
Sunday, August 14, 2022
Pastor Jojo Ma
Weekly Bulletin | Worship Lyrics
Exodus 32:25-35
25 And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. 27 And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” 28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. 29 And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that He might bestow a blessing upon you this day.” 30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, if You will forgive their sin --- but if not, please blot me out of your book that You have written.” 33 But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of my book. 34 But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, My angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.” 35 Then the Lord sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.
I. Neutrality is a myth [vv25-26]
II. Idolatry deserves death [vv27-29]
III. Thanks, but no thanks [vv30-35]
I. Neutrality is a myth [vv25-26]
25 And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him.
Instead of being a light to the nations, ancient Israel was the laughed at by the nations, mocked, and ridiculed. Instead of bringing glory to God, Israel brought disgrace to God.
The world is watching and unbelief is waiting to laugh at belief. And when Christians speak or act unChristianly, the world laughs at us and wants to laugh at our God --- and that is unacceptable.
26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him.
Everyone needs to make this choice: Will you stand with God or not? Will you be on His side or not? Are you for Christ or against Christ? There is no middle ground; neutrality is a myth. Jesus said in Matt 12:30 Whoever is not with me is against me.
II. Idolatry deserves death [vv27-29]
27 And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” 28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. 29 And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that He might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”
If you don’t like what you are reading here, if you are troubled by the apparent harshness of this punishment in these verses, you don’t understand the holiness of God. You don’t get the seriousness of sin. It is an absolute heinous and wicked thing to worship false gods.
29 And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that He might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”
One of the big principles we learn here is something also taught in the New Testament by Jesus and the apostles --- that commitment to God is the highest priority, even over famkily and friends.
The Christian life involves a commitment to the pursuit of holiness. If you love Jesus, you must pursue being holy like him. This is not optional. We must be daily putting idols and sin to death.
Eph 6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
III. Thanks, but no thanks [vv30-35]
30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, if You will forgive their sin --- but if not, please blot me out of your book that You have written.” 33 But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of my book. 34 But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, My angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.” 35 Then the Lord sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.
31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, if You will forgive their sin --- but if not, please blot me out of your book that You have written.”
Rom 9:1-3 1 I am speaking the truth in Christ --- I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
Jn 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
33 But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of my book. 34 But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, My angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.” 35 Then the Lord sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.
From Genesis and on, the Bible keeps pointing us to Jesus.
Who will save God’s people? Who will mediate? Who will atone for sin? Who will fully and finally bring us to God? And, of course, the answer is the person and work of Jesus.
Have you believed on him? Have you had your sins paid for by him? Do you have eternal life because you have trusted him and him alone? Are you willing to leave your life of sin and stand with the Lord, on His side, and do all He says? There is no neutrality. You must choose a side. Choose this day whom you will serve.