There was a sad state in the camp of Israel when this question was asked Moses had gone up into the mount of God where he was receiving the instructions for the building of the tabernacle, and he had been there for forty days. It was a period of severe testing for the people. They had been delivered out of Egypt some time bore and had sung redemption’s song on the banks of the Red Sea. They had walked for many days and months through the wilderness with Moses as their leader, but now he was gone—they did not know where. They had always looked to him—to “this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt.” Exodus 32:1. Their eyes had been upon man instead of upon the Lord, and now they were about to be tested in this. Now Moses their leader was gone—what would they do? And so they decided to make a golden calf and worship it, for they wanted to worship something they could see. Now God is a holy God, so holy that He cannot have sin in His presence, but along with the worship of this golden calf they could go on with all kinds of sin. They could eat and drink and play with sin as much as they wished, and this is what they wanted, for man likes a religion like that. There was no check. Such is the world, dear young reader. They do not mind religion, in fact they feel the need of it, but they want to live in their sins at the same time. They like the form without the power.
This was the condition into which the camp of Israel had fallen, and this is the condition into which Christendom is quickly falling today, if it has not already done so. It is a period of testing for us.
As Moses came to the gate of the camp he issued a call. He stood still and shouted, “Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me.” Exodus 32:26. What a challenge this was to everyone in the camp, for each one must take sides. The camp must now be divided into two parts; those who were on the Lord’s side and those who were not. There was no neutrality in this matter. It was no time for neutrality—it was a time for action. Every man was either for, or against, and he must decide quickly.
The sons of Levi came and stood by Moses. They had seen all that was going on in the camp and they felt it keenly, but now the time had come for a definite Stand and for definite action, and so they were ready and listening for instructions.
Dear young Christian, have you heard a similar call? The world is becoming darker and darker, and open sin and apostasy are on the increase. Can you go on with the world, its ways, and its pleasures any longer? Can you join hands with this wicked scene which crucified the blessed Son of God, and choose their “idols” instead of Him? Do you not hear the call. NOW, “Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me.” It is a time for action—for definite decision for Christ. If you do not act, you will miss the way and, oh, what sorrows await you.
You are not called to a cold isolationism, or an empty formalism. It is a Person who calls you—who wants you near Him, who wants you to serve Him.
The sons of Levi were told to put their swords by their sides and go in and out through the camp, using them first upon their brethren, then upon their companions, then upon their neighbors. It is a time for action TODAY—let us stand definitely and boldly on the Lord’s side.
ML 03/25/1951