Last week we looked at the connection between the Tower of Babel and the Day of Pentecost. This week I want to show you a link between Sinai and Pentecost as another example of God’s complete, amazing redemption.
Sinai
In Exodus 32, we can read the account of the golden calf. According to Exodus 24:18, Moses had been up on Mount Sinai for forty days. When he left he never said how long he’d be gone – he didn’t know. All he said was that Aaron was in charge. The people, clueless when it came to following Yahweh, were much more familiar and comfortable with idolatry like they had known in Egypt. Let’s face it, when we’re pressed, we go with what is comfortable and familiar. But God did not choose them, redeem them, call them His, and enter into a covenant relationship with them only to stand by and watch them go back to worshipping idols.
God was justifiably angry. You can read the details and Moses’ intercession for the people in verses 7-24. Note that when Moses saw with his own eyes what was going on, he was angry as well. In verse 20, Moses ground the calf to powder and dispersed it through the Israelites’ water supply. Then he issued a judgment.
Then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the LORD’S side–come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. And he said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’ ” So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day. Exodus 32:26-28
The people were given an opportunity to repent and identify themselves with Yahweh and His covenant. The Levites immediately did. (Remember Aaron was from the tribe of Levi. They weren’t blameless, just wise.)
Those who didn’t repent received God’s justice instead of His grace. One of my favorite commentaries offers some insight into why God responded so decisively at this moment.
“God revealed to [Moses] that a fight was underway over saving truth. If the idolatry were allowed to continue, many people in ancient Israel would turn from saving truth to condemning falsehood, from the promise of eternal life with God to destruction in hell—and since Israel was the repository of God’s saving truth at this time, allowing the idolatry to continue might have affected the potential for eternal life of countless future generations of Israelites and Gentiles alike.”
New American Commentary – Volume 2: Exodus.–
So the Law came. The people were given a chance to repent and chose not to and 3000 were put to death.
Pentecost
As the book of Acts opens, Jesus goes back to heaven and leaves the apostles in charge, with instructions to wait in Jerusalem. Unlike Aaron and the Israelites, they didn’t get frustrated and impatient.
In Acts 2, after the miraculous manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s coming, Peter and the other apostles made their way to the Temple grounds where a crowd was gathered. Each of them began to preach in a different language, ensuring everyone there heard and understood.
Then Peter preached his famous sermon. Its essence was simply the Messiah came and you crucified Him.
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36
Worshiping and following anyone or anything else now was idolatry.
Unlike the Israelites at Sinai, this crowd understood exactly what Peter meant.
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:37-39
See the similarities? Repent and identify yourself with the new covenant in Christ.
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. Acts 2:41
Three thousand were rescued from death.
God is the only one who redeems like that. Have you repented and identified yourself with His new covenant in Christ?