Charles Pogue
In Exodus 32, when the children of Israel spoke to Aaron to make them gods to go before them because they did not know what happened to the man Moses who brought them up out of Egypt, Aaron had them bring the golden earrings from their wives and children. From that gold, Aaron built a golden calf.
You will remember that when Moses came back into the camp and beheld the evil that was going on, in verse 26, he asked the question, “Who is on the Lord’s side?” The sons of Levi answered that they were by gathering themselves to Moses side. Keeping this question in its context, to whom is it addressed today? Who was it addressed to then? It was not addressed to the Egyptians who had held Israel in slavery for 400 years. It was not addressed to the idolatrous people of the land of Canaan, Israel would be commanded by God to drive out. The question was asked of the chosen people of God.
Thus, in the context, the question is now most appropriately addressed to the church of Christ. In this day, the church is inundated with those who have changed the thus saith the Lord of Colossians 3:17, to “thus saith we” of their own invention. As a result of many abandoning the Lord’s side, the Gospel plan of salvation, especially the essentialness of baptism, is denied. The identity of the church is being compromised in worship, work, and organization. False doctrine is rampant among the congregations of the church in our day. Many members of the church live more like the world rather than following in Christ’s footsteps (1 Peter 2:21).
Today, it is to the church of Christ, which is in the midst of great apostasy, where the question Moses asked the children of Israel belongs. Who is on the Lord’s side today? Just as the answer was, “small” when Moses asked it, so it is today. Those in the church who are truly on the Lord’s side are a rapidly shrinking number, for very few are faithful in all that He has commanded of us.
When Israel worshipped the golden calf, it was said of them in verse 6 that they, “sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” They could not wait to worship the false god. They were enjoying their idolatry! In the church today, many are found to be enjoying the new freedom they have granted themselves to compromise with the world in both religion and morality. These attempt to justify their actions with the same argument men have made over and over again; the Bible does not say not to!
Ignoring the negative side of God’s law of fellowship, and doubting the inspiration of the Scriptures, aided by the onslaught of modern versions, an overwhelming majority of congregations and their members are following the pagan example of the children of Israel. Who is on the Lord’s side? Those who are obedient in all things (2 Cor. 2:9). Those who adorn the doctrine of God in all things (Tit. 2:10). It is a Levi few who fit the description of those who live according to those admonitions.
When one reads Exodus 32:26, several New Testament scriptures should come to mind. One of those is 2 Corinthians 13:5. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates.”
Those few who remain faithful in all things are as the children of Levi who gathered themselves to Moses’ side. What about the rest? They are equivalent to the balance of the children of Israel who were compelled to drink of the water which had the dust of the idol spread within it.
Am I on the Lord’s side?
