Exo 32:9-11 (NIV) “I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. “O LORD,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?

Being committed to people is tricky at best. If you get too committed to them, you will let them dictate some of the activities of your life. If you aren’t committed to them enough, you won’t care what happens to them. It will take a lot of being led by Jesus to know who to commit to, when to commit, how to commit, and how much to commit to a person. Of course commitment to your spouse is vital. You become one person with them. It is total commitment to that relationship and a total resistance to anything that would do harm to it.

John 2:24 (NIV) But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for He knew all men. To have total trust in a person would either take a miracle of God, or a foolish decision. Contracts, agreements, and partnerships may bind you to a person; but, whether you stay committed to them in your heart is another issue. You may be forced to remain in the relationship legally, but, whether you cooperate and stay committed to them is dependent on the situation.

I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them: God seems loosely committed; He appears to be ready and able to do away with them. However, this statement that God made wasn’t a representation of God’s commitment. It was a test of Moses’ commitment. If Moses had said, “That’s a great idea. I think You should get rid of them.”, he would have failed God’s test.

But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. “O LORD,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Moses wasn’t unconditionally committed and God wasn’t either. There were people who were brought into great judgment and death. But, if these people weren’t crossing over God’s line into punishment, judgment, and death, God was still committed to them and so was Moses.

Exo 32:25-27 (NIV) Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him. Then he said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’”

Exo 32:28 (NIV) The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. That is a lack of commitment like no other. When people lead other people into those things that kill them eternally, they have walked across God’s line. If they want to sin and damage themselves, that is the right of their God-given free will. But, when they start recruiting others to join them, they have crossed God’s line of commitment. And, God expects you to have the same line.

1 Cor 5:11 (NIV) But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. That isn’t as strict as what happened with those Children of Israel that led people into worshipping the golden calf. But, it shows you where to draw the line in your relationships.

Exo 32:30-33 (NIV) The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” So Moses went back to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin--but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.

Those who were led into sin were wrong; they allowed themselves to follow the crowd. But, God doesn’t hold them nearly as responsible as those who lead people into sin. If you can help those who are sinning but aren’t trying to lead other people into sin, you have joined God in His efforts. God is all about righteousness; He wants you and those around you to be empowered to stop sinning against one another. If you can help others commit to God and resist their body, the world, and the devil, you will help them be ready to be born again.

Exo 32:34-35 (NIV) Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.” And the LORD struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made. The Levites who struck down three thousand, only killed those who were OBVIOUSLY leading people into sin. But, God looks on the heart. He knows who did it but wasn’t all that obvious. The plague took them down too.