Exodus 32:25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies.
What bothers me about verse 25 is the phrase “so became a laughingstock to their enemies.” I’m pretty sure God isn’t about appearances. He doesn’t care what others think. I feel like verse 25 contains Moses’s interpretation–become a laughingstock–and not God’s.
Exodus 32:26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.
We do know that Moses is concerned with appearances. Back in verse 12 he argued for God not destroying the rebellious Israelites so that the Egyptians wouldn’t think God had led them out of captivity just to destroy them. (In hindsight, that argument seems incredibly ironic now.)
Exodus 32:27a Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side….
Precious Savior, I struggle with today’s scripture, the appearance of caring what others think, the violent killing of those who rebelled. I feel like there should be another way. But Your thoughts are not my thoughts and Your ways are beyond anything I can imagine. Thank You for Jesus, so that there is a better way to You. Amen.
Exodus 32:27b …Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’ ”
Have a blessed day.