Hard-lined

Ex:32:25-29 says about the harsh dealing, the outrageous punishment for the sin they have committed.- Levites killing 3000 of their brothers.

When I read this portion I had so many questions?

🔺Why only 3000?

🔺Why Aaron was left unpunished?

🔺As in v:25 will not the other nations ridicule now?

Before answering these questions there is a more important point to be ascertained. That for God, sin is hardlined and uncompromising. It's not something He does away with. He is very serious. No sin goes unpunished in His presence. And that is why the Cross is so eminent and inevitable. He couldn't say it was ok to sin. It had to meet the consequence.

🔺Why only 3000? They were the most revelrous lot, the most rebellious ones who probably led the others to idol worship! 

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.  Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

Matthew 18:6‭-‬7 NIV

Probably that is why the rest were spared. God is giving them another opportunity. To revere Him, to know Him more, to know His standards. That He will not compromise.

Plus Moses had interceded for them.

🔺Why Aaron was left unpunished? Aaron was not at all serious to own up. He took the path of least resistance, to give an excuse. He was lazy.

“Lazy people always find fault with their tools, and those who do not intend to work always find some excuse or other; and then they make up for their laziness by having a delicious spiritual dream. Have the nominally Christian people about us are dreaming; and they consider that thus they are doing the work of the LORD. They are only doing it deceitfully by putting dreaming into the place of real service.” (Spurgeon)

And the LORD was very angry with Aaron and would have destroyed him; so I prayed for Aaron also at the same time. (Deuteronomy 9:20). Moses had interceded for Aaron!

🔺As in v:25 will not the other nations ridicule now? It is now the nation's will shudder more. To know that this God is not a selfish God. He is a God with substance. He doesn't compromise on holiness so much so to spare His own nation. 

Dear ones,

Sin is not to be compromised.

When confronted with sin, do not be lazy giving an excuse. Own up. Repent.

Do not be a stumbling block for another to cause them to sin.

Above all know this God and His standards. That He is serious about sin.