Moses and the 5th Commandment

[timotheos]

And the sons of Levi did according to the words of Moses, and there were slain that day about three and twenty thousand men.

Was Moses guilty of breaking the newly-given 5th commandment here, following the golden calf incident? After pleading with God not to destroy the Israelites for their evildoing, why does he then take matters into his own hands? Was it to give them one more chance?

I have to teach my CCD class tomorrow about this, and I am anticipating questions.

 

[Reuben_J]

Was Moses guilty of breaking the newly-given 5th commandment here, following the golden calf incident? After pleading with God not to destroy the Israelites for their evildoing, why does he then take matters into his own hands? Was it to give them one more chance?

I have to teach my CCD class tomorrow about this, and I am anticipating questions.

This is a personal opinion and the short of it, and so please do not bring it to your CCD class.

I would look at the OT as the era before Jesus came. Jesus makes the difference. The consequence of sin is death; this seems to be the literal meaning and it is true of the OT. With Jesus, now death has lost its sting. Of course we still die but it does not hurt us anymore for we have the eternal life. But in reference to the OT, what Moses did was not against the 5th Commandment but what happened was merely the natural consequence of sin.

After Jesus came, since death has lost its sting, there is no need or the necessity to use it as punishment anymore on earth.

As for the CCD. You are the expert in this but I thought there is a natural progression on what you teach there according to their age and understanding. If they ask question that requires very profound answer, what would you do especially if you haven’t taught them the ‘theology’ behind the explanation? I guess this is why some people are more adept at teaching children than others; I am not so I admire you guys in your service of love.

God bless you and your ministry.

 

[NotWorthy]

I like to focus on the way this pre-figures the Pentecost in Acts.

1. The golden calf incident - “Calf-Gate” occurred on Pentecost.
2. There was thunder and fire at both events.
3. A new law is given to the people in each event.
4. 3000 Jews died in Exodus. 3000 Jews died to this world and were born again in the next at Acts.

Another way to focus on this is that, in the Old Covenant, when you break the Covenant, you separate yourself from God. But in the New Covenant, God is willing to wash away your sins and bring you lovingly back into His Covenant.

 

[timotheos]

This is a personal opinion and the short of it, and so please do not bring it to your CCD class.

I would look at the OT as the era before Jesus came. Jesus makes the difference. The consequence of sin is death; this seems to be the literal meaning and it is true of the OT. With Jesus, now death has lost its sting. Of course we still die but it does not hurt us anymore for we have the eternal life. But in reference to the OT, what Moses did was not against the 5th Commandment but what happened was merely the natural consequence of sin.

After Jesus came, since death has lost its sting, there is no need or the necessity to use it as punishment anymore on earth.

As for the CCD. You are the expert in this but I thought there is a natural progression on what you teach there according to their age and understanding. If they ask question that requires very profound answer, what would you do especially if you haven’t taught them the ‘theology’ behind the explanation? I guess this is why some people are more adept at teaching children than others; I am not so I admire you guys in your service of love.

God bless you and your ministry.

Thanks Reuben. They are still concrete thinkers. I like your argument that death is the punishment for obstinate attachment to sin here, and different than “Thou shalt not kill” which may pertain to the innocent. I will not go into it any deeper in class, although you could conceivably write a dissertation on it.

 

[timotheos]

I like to focus on the way this pre-figures the Pentecost in Acts.

1. The golden calf incident - “Calf-Gate” occurred on Pentecost.
2. There was thunder and fire at both events.
3. A new law is given to the people in each event.
4. 3000 Jews died in Exodus. 3000 Jews died to this world and were born again in the next at Acts.

Another way to focus on this is that, in the Old Covenant, when you break the Covenant, you separate yourself from God. But in the New Covenant, God is willing to wash away your sins and bring you lovingly back into His Covenant.

NotWorthy, these are great points. The Holy Spirit is a central figure, and quite the opposite of any human-created representation of God. It just occurred to me – The choice of life or death is unavoidable in the immediate presence of the Holy Spirit - you HAVE to choose between them!

 

[JM3]

Thanks Reuben. They are still concrete thinkers. I like your argument that death is the punishment for obstinate attachment to sin here, and different than “Thou shalt not kill” which may pertain to the innocent. I will not go into it any deeper in class, although you could conceivably write a dissertation on it.

I believe the Hebrew is ‘You shall not murder’, thus your confusion.