Exodus 32:26, commentary and pictures

After Israel worshiped the golden calf while Moses was on the mount, Moses stood in the gate of the camp and publicly called everyone to take a stand on the Lord's side by coming to him. He said not who is on my side but who is on the Lord's side, giving all one open opportunity to leave rebellion, declare loyalty, humble themselves and receive pardon and life. All the sons of Levi gathered to him because they had taken no part in making or worshiping the calf, while those who refused to come remained stubborn rebels and about three thousand men fell by the sword. There are only two parties with no neutral ground, so being on the Lord's side means an open, public, unmistakable choice shown by coming forward and standing apart from apostasy. Their obedience even to an unpleasant duty against friendship and near relatives was counted as consecration, and for that faithfulness God blessed them and honored them with the service of the tabernacle.

Sinai Idolatry and Call

The call belongs to Israel's golden-calf apostasy while Moses was absent on the mount receiving further revelation, including the directions for building the sanctuary and the pattern of the ark. He remained forty days and forty nights listening to God's words without eating or drinking, with Joshua with him in the cloud of thick darkness resting on the peak, and afterward he pleaded with God on behalf of the people. That waiting time was appointed for meditating on the law of God already heard and preparing hearts to receive further revelation, which would have shielded them from temptation. The lesson of the calf worship should have left a lasting impression, yet Israel failed to take it to heart and later fell again to temptation.

Instead the people became careless, inattentive, lawless, discontented and unbelieving because Moses did not come down. The mixed multitude were first in murmuring and impatience, leaders in the apostasy that followed, impatient to be on the way to the land flowing with milk and honey while losing sight that the goodly land was promised only on condition of obedience. Some suggested a return to Egypt, the masses became determined to wait no longer for Moses, and the mixed multitude instigated the making of the calf. Feeling helpless without their leader, the people returned to old superstitions and, at the suggestion of those who had practiced this idolatry in Egypt, made and worshiped a calf. The ox or calf was regarded by the Egyptians as a symbol of deity, and Israel desired some image to represent God and to go before them in the place of Moses.

God had given no similitude of Himself and had prohibited any material representation for such a purpose. The mighty miracles in Egypt and at the Red Sea were designed to establish faith in Him as the invisible, all-powerful Helper of Israel, the only true God. The desire for a visible manifestation of His presence had already been granted in the pillar of cloud and of fire guiding the hosts and in the revealing of His glory upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud of the Presence was still before them when they turned back in their hearts to the idolatry of Egypt and represented the glory of the invisible God by the similitude of an ox. Aaron, left in charge while Moses was on the mountain receiving the stone tablets, failed to stand firmly against the propositions of the people and to lead them through the temptation to idolatry, joining in their plans and yielding to make the molten calf. In contrast, Moses felt the burden of his work and relied on God as his counselor.

Aaron's course came from weakness and desire to please the people even at sacrifice of principle, and at the very first permission to go contrary to God's commands in the least particular he lost his power of command. It was the same defective administration he had shown in failing with his children in his home. That first permission allowed a spirit of reveling and commonness to come into the camp, then the spirit of idolatry came in and set in motion a current that could not be stayed except by stern decisive measures. The history stands as a warning to those responsible for guiding others that they must act faithfully and wisely in a crisis. After coming down from the mount and finding the children of Israel engaged in idolatrous worship, Moses destroyed the golden calf.

He then stood in the gate of the camp and publicly called the people to choose the Lord's side and come to him. Trumpeters spread the call through the camp, and those who repented could take their stand beside him and receive forgiveness. Some had already stood apart from the idolatrous scene in disgust. He said not who is on my side but who is on the LORD's side, calling Israel to the side of the highest power in the universe, the Lord God of heaven. That wording gave privilege and every opportunity to return by signifying through coming to Moses that they placed themselves on the Lord's side, so they had no excuse, though most would not do it.

Repentance Offered, Judgment Executed

Moses' call in the gate opened to all one public opportunity to leave rebellion, declare loyalty, humble before God, repudiate past idolatrous conduct, show determination to obey, and receive pardon and forgiveness with promise of life. Those who humbled themselves and desired to obey would be pardoned and preserved alive. Refusing to come meant remaining a stubborn rebel, self-condemned without excuse even in God's very presence. Those who refused to yield, persisted in idolatry, and would not stand by Moses met a fearful end and lost their lives.

The call divided the camp into three groups: those on the right who had taken no part in idolatry, those on the left who had joined idol worship but quickly repented of departing from God, and a large company, mostly the mixed multitude who instigated the calf, who stubbornly refused to stand on either side and wished to go back to Egypt. All the sons of Levi gathered to Moses because they had taken no part in making or worshiping the calf. Those who had stayed clear and those who repented were distinguished from continued rebels, and the repentant and humbled were spared.

Only those free from idolatry were to take the sword and execute God's solemn punishment from gate to gate against brother, companion and neighbor, sparing none. About three thousand men fell that day by the Levites' sword, terror fell on the people, and the judgment rebuked sin and put fear upon them so they would not dishonor God. The verse requires firm separation from wrong when amusement, intemperate eating and drinking, play and idolatry have come in through unfaithful leadership that pleases the people at sacrifice of principle. A decided course at the first permission of wrong would have saved terrible consequences, blame rests on permitting idolatry, and faithful sentinels and appointed men with firm barriers are needed in every place to prevent the leaven of disaffection and corruption from entering the church.

Levite Consecration and Reward

True consecration as shown at the gate of the camp is obedience to God and readiness to perform even unpleasant duties, placing His claims above friendship and the lives of near relatives. It is upholding what is right by naming sin and carrying out righteousness, counteracting unfaithful influence that yields to the people. Doing this painful work against their own feelings showed true opposition to the high crime of idolatry.

Their execution of the command to purge rebellion was called an act of consecration upon son and upon brother that God might bestow a blessing. It consecrated them more fully to the worship of the only true God and brought His blessing and approval upon them. Compassion for the erring does not mean refusing to obey God's command to remove idolatry and rebellion.

Because of that faithfulness they were honored with the service of the tabernacle in place of Israel's firstborn. They were given the office of erecting the tabernacle and encamping around it while Israel pitched at a distance. When Israel journeyed they were to take it down and bear it with the ark and all the sacred articles of furniture, while priestly ministry before the Lord was restricted to Aaron and his sons. By Levi's fidelity to Jehovah when the other tribes apostatized, the curse to divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel was changed into a blessing, though its outward form remained in that Levi received no tribal inheritance except forty-eight cities scattered in different parts of the land.

Their response made them the first who should answer a later call to serve God. When the temple needed priests and the people needed teachers, they should have recognized the call to return from Babylon to Jerusalem and led others by example. Only a few ultimately did, and their failure to respond promptly showed indifference to God's purpose and discouraged others.

Justice Maintained Through Mercy

Moses stood as God's instrument to uphold divine government after outright treason against a King who had loaded Israel with benefits and whose authority they had voluntarily pledged to obey. The call in the gate gave every person freedom of choice and full opportunity for repentance, and only those who persisted in rebellion were cut off, so that God's law was maintained while His mercy was displayed. The judgment that followed testified to the surrounding nations of His displeasure against idolatry and left a solemn public protest on record, so that Israel could afterward point to the fate of the transgressors as proof that their sin had not been sanctioned or excused. By casting off allegiance the people had forfeited divine protection and stood exposed to their enemies, making prompt punishment necessary for the good of Israel itself and as a lesson to all succeeding generations.

Love no less than justice demanded that punishment, for God is guardian as well as sovereign and cuts off those determined on rebellion lest they lead others to ruin. Without speedy punishment the same corruption seen in the days of Noah would have returned, so it was mercy that thousands should suffer to prevent judgments upon millions and to save the many by punishing the few. It was mercy even to the transgressors themselves to cut them short in evil, lest the same rebellious spirit break out in hatred and strife until they destroyed one another. In this way the severity was in love to the world, in love to Israel, and in love to the transgressors.

Standing for the right irrespective of consequences checks apostasy and evil by setting before the people the perils of Sinai and their solemn covenant to obey God's law. Compliance with the desires of the people, with calm assurance in carrying out their plans, emboldens them to go to greater lengths in sin than had before entered their minds. Moses represents those who name sin plainly, refuse to tolerate wrongdoing and remove it from among them, while seeking the salvation of the erring without selfish motives.

Nature of True Allegiance

There are only two parties, those who serve apostasy and those who serve God and keep distinct from apostasy, and at set periods all are called to take a decided position on the right side and show which side they are on. No one can remain neutral or non-committal and still be a follower and faithful servant of Christ, for those who receive and believe in Jesus must wear Christ's yoke and no yoke that man has placed on the neck. When a decisive call to stand on the Lord's side is made, those who remain passive or claim neither side reveal they are not prepared to defend the right, whether from blindness and fear rather than a clear sense of right and wrong. The half-hearted must be brought to light so they may know where they stand, for the choice is between being on the Lord's side and not being on it. A person who is not clearly on the Lord's side is not working for Christ but is fighting on the enemy's side, though the distinction cannot be discerned by natural sight and Satan tries to erase it, while God's law marks it in words, conduct and works; therefore no middle position is allowed but a clear wholehearted stand aligned with the whole counsel of God is required.

Being on the Lord's side means an open, public, unmistakable choice shown by coming forward and standing with God's appointed leader as Israel was to come to Moses. Leaders must not only ask who is loyal but require those who identify with God's people to step forward and make allegiance unmistakable, putting personal plans under God's law and remaining faithful to Him. The question calls for a clear choice and an open response of loyalty to Him, a personal decision by everyone to belong to God. Loyalty must be shown plainly and decidedly so no uncertainty remains in the minds of others as to where a person stands, and a time comes when all show plainly on whose side they are standing. As Moses and Aaron were often compelled to stand apart in opposition to their brethren in asserting loyalty, so God's servants today, especially those educating and training His people for the last work, must be faithful, decided and wholly in earnest, and God's messengers may be given energy and authority for such firm urgent appeals to choose firmly and wholeheartedly.

A person's side is determined by who has the heart, with whom the thoughts are, upon whom one loves to converse, and who has the warmest affections and best energies, for many who profess to be on the Lord's side are not and the weight of all their actions is on Satan's side. To be on the Lord's side is to have the thoughts with Him and the sweetest thoughts of Him, to have no friendship with the world, to consecrate all that one has and is to Him, and to long to bear His image, breathe His Spirit, do His will and please Him in all things. Wholehearted loyalty keeps the soul close to Jesus as its source of strength, rather than serving Him half-heartedly or carelessly. Those whose actions match the light they have received will be counted among the Lord's people, while receiving great light and refusing to live by it leaves corresponding darkness.

The call marks a time of shaking that reveals who stands on a sure foundation and belongs to the Lord, distinguishing those who stand firm from those who can be shaken in conflict. A soon-coming full revelation of loyalty will divide those holding truth in their hearts from those deceived by teachers making void God's Word, and manifold coming developments will make the division manifest. Those on the Lord's side keep the principles of truth before the people and send the warning message forth through sanctified channels with a certain sound. God's people must therefore openly take their position for Him, be distinct from the world, be marked as wholly His, and be unashamed of Jesus, for lacking courage to stand for Him before unbelievers, keep apart from worldly fashions and follow His self-denying example shows shame of Him and lack of love for His example.

Present Call to Decide

God speaks today just as through Moses, calling for a decided position on the Lord's side that brings all powers into exercise to vindicate the advent message, the most important message that will ever come to the world. That means giving time and strength to preaching present truth to Jew and Gentile and to those who have never heard it, making known the truths that made Seventh-day Adventists what they are, the messages that stirred men and women in 1843 and 1844 and the third angel's message, entering new fields with the Word of God as the message, standing on the platform of truth and proclaiming the soon coming of Christ. Taking position where God bids means leaving alone those who after abundant light and repeated evidence still continue on the unbelieving and opposing side, not spending precious time repeating to them what they already know or answering the questions of doubting ones or going over and over the same ground to establish faith that should never have doubted, because that will not remove doubts, in order to keep opportunities to enter new fields with present truth.

The question applies to the church in crisis and difficult circumstances: after earnest prayer members should stand for the Lord, put aside striving for supremacy, stop watching for and censuring one another's faults, confess their own faults with humility, put away contentions and differences, examine what spirit is prompting them, reject unsanctified independence that does not submit to God, and act together as brethren with broken hearts and contrite spirits showing unity. Answering the call is to come over to active mercy and care for suffering, for the Lord's side is ever the side of mercy, pity and sympathy as seen in the life of Jesus which must be imitated. Kindness done to the least of his brethren is done to him, and indifference or injustice done to the least of his saints is done to him and wounds him, so those who fail in mercy, pity and sympathy are not on the Lord's side in these things but are on the enemy's side.

Being on the Lord's side is made plain by allegiance and action, and each person must now answer the question by cooperating with God in character building in individual experience as a practical Christian who abides in Christ. Keeping the Sabbath holy plainly marks educators, students and workers in medical institutions as belonging to the Lord and demonstrates allegiance to him and honor to the day God set apart for his followers. It means keeping the commandments of God in spirit, words and actions in the golden chain connecting brethren with each other and with God, with nothing in the heart antagonistic to God, putting away selfish competition among those of the same faith and drawing together in unity and love in response to the measureless sacrifice of the Son of God, with no excuse for spiritual weakness, lukewarmness, unbelief, wrath or drawing apart from brethren and from God.

The call summons volunteers to take a firm stand and pledge themselves to unite with heavenly intelligences and with Jesus of Nazareth in holy activity and exercise their powers to become more efficient to save souls and glorify God. It means aiding the advancement of truth and awakening to the large responsibility of missionary work and the work that needs to be done now, just now, in their own borders, cooperating with those advancing the work and drawing in even cords with Christ, hiding human ways in God's ways so that all variance ceases and Christ's character is represented in kindness, forbearance, self-denial, meekness, humility and love. It means joining heartily with utmost ability to support the school being established as God's means of educating workers to shed the light of truth upon the people, seeing the work to be done and doing it, employing talents in giving the last message of mercy to the world through ministry, Bible work and canvassing work rather than being bound down to mere mechanical employment, and not so largely employing time and money in establishing sanitariums, food factories, food stores and restaurants that other lines of work are neglected, while being earnest, active and courageous co-workers with Christ in seeking and saving the lost and helping fellow believers in need.

Pointed appeals should urge those held back and convinced of truth to lay down their weapons, break Satan's hold and snare and decide for everlasting life and join God's people determined to serve him. In the fierce conflict raging between the power of light and the power of darkness with vital interest for God's people, those who receive and believe in Jesus must wear Christ's yoke and no man's yoke and must not be non-committal about where they stand, and those wearing a yoke that man has placed on their necks must be freed from it before they can act the part God desires them to act in proclaiming the truth, for no one can remain neutral and still be Christ's follower and faithful servant. The call demands visible fidelity even in the smallest test in preparation for future conflict with those who keep God's commandments and have the testimony of Jesus, as shown by the Levites gathering to Moses, for people must show their fidelity now and those unable to endure even a small test may fail when God's commandment-keeping people face open conflict. Each person is forming destiny and God reads character, and those who persist in a wrong course risk becoming fixed in deception, delusion and stubbornness, so people must stop excusing sin in themselves or others and act before it is too late to set wrongs right.

In schools and among youth the call is to stand faithfully for Jesus, uphold Christian principles, and resist irreverent lawless conduct that harms others and turns hearts from God. Parents should separate themselves and their children from ungodly associations and show by their choices whom they serve, and teachers and ministers who remain firm in the principles that define Seventh-day Adventists protect young people from advice and influences that could draw them away from those principles. Taking the Lord's side includes denying appetite and giving up harmful indulgences, receiving strength and wisdom from God to support his cause. Coming to the Lord's side means having an individual faith and an individual experience and trusting wholly in God rather than following any human example or leaning on any human support, for only those who trust wholly in God are safe now and in a position where God can use them, because many are constantly taking wrong positions and making wrong moves and trusting their guidance misleads, as seen in the McKenzie family's faithfulness despite poverty and hardship.

The response to be sought in every church is giving oneself to Jesus and deciding to be on God's side by responding to the invitation to come to Christ, coming forward publicly with earnest faces and tears showing sincere determination and saying I will be on the Lord's side, resolving to seek earnestly a higher standard of life. Those who took the Lord's side came forward to Moses, as when the young man who walked forty miles to hear the truth and had never professed religion took his stand on the Lord's side before leaving, when several church members responded and took their position for God while the Holy Spirit moved hearts toward repentance and change, when two men who had worked against the church confessed and lived in harmony, and when hearers in San Francisco who gave themselves to Jesus expressed determination to be on the Lord's side and seek a higher standard. The call is applied to people whose influence hinders the church to unite with the body in serving the Lord or stop obstructing those who are wholly for him, and to standing with the right and not remaining neutral when wrong is reproved. It is applied to choosing Christ's side, rejecting Satan's influence and joining with God's people in faithfulness, to taking counsel from the Bible the divine Standard and standing under the Lord's banner rather than Satan's, to giving oneself fully and without reservation to God and his work, to entering his service with earnest truth-loving hearts relying on his help, to finding safety wholly on his side, to striving manfully to save one's own soul and also the soul of one sustained by others who is near the brink of ruin by seeking the Lord most earnestly for divine enlightenment to know how to help break the spell of skepticism and unbelief upon him, and to teachers and ministers remaining firm and being sought out as willing and students responding to become Christians.

When leaders exalt themselves, divorce from God's people and persist in disloyalty to truth under satanic control, the present open call requires taking a firm stand now in heaven's light, moving calmly without excitement but solidly and surely, giving no encouragement or support to rebellious documents, devisings and propositions, following conscience with prayer and faith and going straight forward on the long-held platform of truth, while expecting the opposing power to make obedience as hard as possible by misrepresenting and misapplying words and actions. The same call is a present call for those in Battle Creek who are faithful and true to come over on the Lord's side with individual faith and experience, for listeners urged to respond to God's power working through the testimonies in reaching souls, and for those who when the powers of darkness assail and trials meet those who desire life successfully resist Satan doubling his energies to bring back under his banner every soul struggling for light instead of returning to his banner, bringing rejoicing in heaven by going to the Standard for counsel. Forsaking God's express requirements brings his judgments while putting away sin with living faith brings heaven's richest blessings, and being on the Lord's side means coming forward to serve him with a whole heart and unswervingly maintaining allegiance, by which standard a brother described as not on the Lord's side and unchanged from Australia, or any person urged to break from misleading influences to stand with the Lord, is warned. The faithful experienced should sound Who will be on the Lord's side in every place, calling others to break free from influences that divide them from one another and gather together with those who are faithful on the shared foundation of truth, for when truth becomes clear loyalty to God can outweigh family ties, church relations and every opposing force.