Exodus 32:26-29
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.”
This seems excessive… but only if you
minimize the significance of sin. If you see sin as small, easy to forgive, no
big deal, etc… this response seems like too much. If you see sin as large,
creating a great chasm between God and man and great hurt and brokenness, this
response seems tempered. If you see sin as minor, 3,000 dying is a tragedy. If
you see sin as major, only 3,000 dying is an act of mercy.
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