“…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. 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.’ ” And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell.” -Exodus 32:26-28
It is strange what fickle creatures we are. Faced with uncertainty, we often default to established patterns of behavior regardless of how destructive they are.
When most of us think about Pentecost, we think of rushing wind, and descending fire, and a strange convalescence of earthly language whereby people from all nations understood Peter in their own dialect. Most of us do not think of the death of three thousand Israelites who were executed for their idolatry. Yet, this is at the heart of Pentecost and, should we strip such an event from our memories, we strip much of the power of that fateful occurence in Acts 2. Pentecost, we often forget, found its origins as a Hebrew festival celebrating the giving of the Law. As far back as Exodus 20, God announced the core of moral obligation to the Israelites, as a divine voice bellowed forth the ten commandments from the midst of the flame enshrouding Mount Sinai. The people knew their God by now, having experienced His power in the plagues upon Egypt, the parting of the sea, manna in the desert, and now the all-consuming fire and reverberating voice-from-the-flame. God was real; God was powerful. And then, God called to Moses.
It is strange what fickle creatures we are. Faced with uncertainty, we often default to established patterns of behavior regardless of how destructive they are. It is for this reason that spiritual disciplines are so important – they help us establish Godly patterns to which we default in times of stress. The ancient Israelites, however, had not established such patterns for holy living. After twelve chapters in the absence of Moses, they defaulted instead to Hathor, the popular Egyptian cow goddess, or perhaps Apis, who is commonly represented by a bull. Hathor or Apis… who it was doesn’t matter; what matters is who it wasn’t. There, at the base of a mountain wreathed in flame, the one they were not worshipping was Yahweh.
There are consequences to divine infidelity. A treasonous violation of the Law (‘treason’ indeed, for the Israelites ultimately were usurping the authority of their King) must have ramifications, or the Law is without merit. Even so, Moses first offered up an opportunity for reconciliation: “Who is on the Lord’s side? Come to me.”
There were, unfortunately, those who refused. Despite the visible God upon the mountain before them, there were those who actively chose to rebel; who, for whatever reason, chose judgment over reconciliation. Judgment came. Three thousand perished. The law had come.
Fast forward with me a few thousand years. The cross had met the Law’s demand for justice, fulfilling it. Fifty days later, the remaining disciples were gathered together in one place, during the feast of the celebration of the giving of the Law. Suddenly, fire descended once more, as in the days of Sinai. This time, however, it was not the Law being given, but the Spirit of God. Whereas before, the Divine Mandate had been carved into tablets of stone, now the Divine Presence took root in hearts of flesh. Whereas before, the Lord empowered Moses to speak as His representative, now Peter took that mantle under the power of the Spirit. Whereas before, Moses had enunciated an offer for reconciliation, now Peter boomed forth a similar cry:
“And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” -Acts 2:40-41
Three thousand.
…Grace has come.
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seashoremary April 7, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Thank you for visiting my blog and for “liking” it. I am so impressed with your insight into bible scriptures and your ability to wring out details and explain them, including the not so comfortable moments ie: where the 3,000 were killed for disobedience.
This one strikes me the most because my mother takes this issue at a personal level feeling sympathy for all those that perished. I’ve explained that sin cannot dwell in man for God to be able to continue not doing something about it–His judgement prevails, not ours.
I appreciate the application of the Law being given at the mount and your expository of the same celebration of the Law now becoming the Divine Presence in our hearts as in the Book of Acts (the indwelling of the Holy Spirit).
Thank you.
Blessings,
Mary
Carol Crouch April 7, 2012 at 1:47 pm
I haven’t ever thought about Pentecost in this way. It makes it much more powerful.
terry1954 April 7, 2012 at 2:54 pm
very interesting, thank u
stewkebar April 7, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Great insight, thanks!
philosophical11 April 7, 2012 at 6:55 pm
Great commentary, you did an excellent job of tying the two events together.
Lim Studio April 7, 2012 at 8:45 pm
I have been a Christian all my remembered days. I was lucky that way. However, having been brought up in the Church w/ countless Sunday school lessons, I knew the stories but had never read the actual Bible- until this year. What a difference it makes. The story on the outside is one thing. Reading the Word is another. I only just finished reading the New Testament. Pentecost, or the original gift of the Holy Spirit to the apostles is an amazing read. I have noticed that God loves symmetry. There is always an intersection between the New & Old Testaments and the intersection is always meaningful. Thank you.
T. E. Hanna April 7, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Agreed. The more I study, the more I fall in love with the Old Testament.
groundedangel April 7, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Christianity never really made total sense to me until I began to see how the Old Testament was connected to the New Testament. Thanks for pointing out the 3000. I had never noticed that before!
Planting Potatoes April 8, 2012 at 3:37 pm
You bring a whole new perspective to the Pentecost, and the mandates God gave Moses and Peter….talk about “he is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow” I am blessed by your words today!
220lily April 10, 2012 at 4:22 pm
I love this. And I never thought of Pentecost this way before: the analogical OT type (law) / NT fulfillment (grace) – and an excellent historical reading.
amberleaofalaska May 25, 2012 at 4:48 am
Thank you for visiting my blog, and for the “like”. I have been reading through some of your material, and I am finding much encouragement as well as very meaningful insight. Your description of the connection between the OT and NT is quite accurate, tying in the Law and Grace. The book of Acts has always been one of my favorites to read, though every time I read it I find something new, “another morsel of meat” as our pastor calls it. Thank you for sharing.