”Then Moses said, "You have been set apart to the LORD today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day."
Exodus 32:29New International Version (NIV)
Exodus 32:29 Devotional
Setting yourself apart
Exodus 32:29 relays that the Levites set themselves apart from their fellow Israelites to God when they went against their fellow Israelites. Consequently, God blessed them.
Moses’ Delay (Exodus 32:1-6)
This was occasioned by Moses’ delay to come down from Mout Sinai. Because when Moses was delayed to come down from the mountain, the Israelites wondered what had happened to him.
They, therefore, asked Aaron to make for them gods who would go before them. And Aaron asked for the earrings that the women and children were wearing and made a calf out of them.
Then the Israelites declared that those were the gods who had brought them out of Egypt. And Aaron built an altar in front of the calf and announced a festival that was celebrated the following day.
During the celebrations, the Israelites sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. After this, they ate, drank, and engaged in revelry.
Moses goes down the mountain (Exodus 32:7-18)
Consequently, God commanded Moses to go down from the mountain because the Israelites had become corrupt courtesy of their worship of the golden calf. God also remarked that from His observation, the Israelites were a stiff-neck people. He, therefore, wanted Moses to leave Him alone so that He could burn with anger and destroy the Israelites.
After destroying the Israelites, God intended to make a great nation out of Moses. But Moses interceded for the Israelites, and God relented.
Moses burns with anger (Exodus 32:19-25)
Therefore, Moses went down the mountain and saw the Israelites dancing to the golden calf. And he burned with anger.
Consequently, Moses turned the calf into powder, which he scattered on water, and made the Israelites drink it. Then he asked Aaron what the Israelites had done to him so he ended up leading them into such a great sin.
Moses’ call (Exodus 32:26-28)
Finally, Moses stood at the entrance of their camp and asked whoever was for the Lord to go to him. And the Levites rallied to him.
Then Moses commanded them to strap on swords to their sides and go through the camp killing their brothers, friends, and neighbors. And the Levites did as Moses had commanded them.
The Levites set themselves apart
Therefore, Moses told them that “they had been set apart from their sons and brothers unto the Lord, and He had blessed them that day” (Exodus 32:29). For they had gone against their fellow Israelites and disciplined the unrepentant idolaters in Israel with the death penalty. And their obedience to God’s difficult command was made possible because they considered their relationship with the Lord and their subordination to Him more important than love for their families, friends, and fellow Israelites.
Consequently, you too can set yourself apart from the world. And you can do this by choosing to be for the Lord.
God blessed the Levites
Additionally, Moses told the Levites they were blessed the day they set themselves apart. In other words, God had blessed them for their loyalty to Him. And this blessing came in the form of the Levites being selected by the Lord to be the priestly tribe of Israel (Numbers 1:50-53).
Therefore, setting yourself apart comes before your service to God. Consecration then becomes the prerequisite for ministry. And no wonder Peter refers to us as a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).
Also, for you to be able to hear from God, and fully obey Him, you need to separate, cleanse and dedicate yourself to Him. This will guarantee you God’s presence (Psalm 91:1).
Finally, in addition to God’s presence, there are other blessings attached to your being set apart. It could be either an anointing (Hebrews 1:9 and Acts 5:12 (2 Timothy 2:21 and Acts 9:15)) or victory without having to fight.
Therefore, for you and I who are modern-day priests, we have an excellent example for us to follow. The Levites are our example.
Prayer/Blessing
Lord, I dedicate myself to You today. I shun anything or anyone that will compromise my consecration to you. Receive me. This is my prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
May you set yourself apart unto the Lord today and in the days to come. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Isaiah 43-46 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
