STAND ON THE LORD’S SIDE - PART 1 (EXODUS 32:25-29)

Dear Members in Christ,

Stand on the Lord’s side - Part 1 (Exodus 32:25-29)

We often sing the hymn entitled, “Who is on the Lord’s side?” This hymn encourages the Christian to take a stand for the Lord. The theme of this hymn is drawn from an incident in the history of God’s chosen people, the Israelites. The phrase “Standing on the Lord’s side” is often quoted as a slogan in doctrinal apologetics or as a figurative way to describe the Christian’s spiritual battle with sin and unbelief. In this and coming articles, we shall explore the origins of this phrase and how it applies to the Christian’s life.

This event in the history of God’s people is deeply etched in the memory of the Israelites. It is thus recorded in the Bible for us. Moses had ascended the Mount to receive the Law, and while he was descending the mountain, he heard a strange commotion coming form the Israelite camp. 

“And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.” Exodus 32:15-17

Something curious is happening in the camp. The record in the Bible tells us what it is. It is familiar to us, the people had committed idolatry.  Today we shall learn two important lessons from this incident in the history of God’s people. Firstly, it is so easy to drop into spiritual pitfall as a moment of neglect or slumber can make us fall. Secondly, our desired response to stand for the Lord.

A. The spiritual disaster – the ease with which to fall into debauchery and idolatry   

Whilst Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law from God, the people made and worship a golden calf and indulged in pagan worship rituals. They had pressured Aaron to make them a golden calf. So, Aaron succumbed and took their gold and built them an idol.

“And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.” Exodus 32:19

The sight of these idolaters angered Moses. The Bible describes it as, “Moses’ anger waxed hot.” He was gone but for a period of forty days and forty nights yet in that short time, the people slipped into the muck of their Egyptian slave masters. They craved to worship idols. “These be thy gods, which brought thee out of Egypt,” said Aaron to them. We see that they have not shucked off the filth of idolatry. They harboured secret sins and desire to pay homage to the idol they are familiar with - the Egyptian god Apis, the image of a bull.

Dearly beloved, we must never hang on to any entanglement with sin. Even the closest ties with “pet” sins must be severed. When we have parted with all known sins, only then can the Lord bless us. The Israelites were still tethered to their old sinful idol worship. Standing on the Lord’s side means being willing to separate from sin and the world. 

B. The call to stand on the Lord’s side and our desired response 

The servant of God, Moses, was incensed by the sight. Rightly so, for he (and the people) had just witnessed the spectacular appearance of the Lord God on Mount Sinai. He issued a call to arms.  

“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.,” Exodus 32:26

The Levites were the first to the breach. They gathered themselves to stand with Moses. We must be quick to identify sin, and to separate ourselves from it.

To be on the Lord’s side, God’s people have to be alert and sensitive to the corrupting influence of sin. The Levites were quick to respond to Moses’ call. Being on the Lord’s side also means that swift action has to be taken to deal with sin and to separate from it.  Standing on the Lord’s side means separating from sin, purging it from our lives, and severing the closest ties with sin. This incident brings forth the desired response of the Levites. They stood as a tribe separate from the rest; they stood with Moses. They stood on the Lord’s side for they knew that the rest of the Israelites had incurred the wrath of God.

Brothers and sisters, standing on the Lord’s side means taking a firm position against sin and anything which blasphemes God’s Holy Name. May God help us to draw close to Him, and may God help us stand on His side always. Amen.   

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor