Thursday, April 28, 2022
Best Friends with the Dark
“Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. ‘Oh, for some meat!’ they exclaimed” (Numbers 11:4 NLT).
The foreign rabble, or mixed multitude, joined the Israelites as they left Egypt. They probably were impressed with the wonder-working God of Israel, and they, too, wanted to escape. And although they left Egypt, Egypt apparently never left them.
They didn’t appreciate the manna God was providing for them in the wilderness, so they started complaining. And then the Israelites began to complain too. The mixed multitude was a bad influence on God’s people. Manna was bread from Heaven, sent from God, and they rejected it.
In the same way, nonbelievers don’t get why believers love the Scriptures. In fact, here’s a real test of your spiritual life. Do you look forward to Bible study? Or, do you dread it and can’t wait for it to be over? That’s an indication of where you are spiritually. A hungry believer is a healthy believer.
And if you’re strong spiritually, if you’re healthy spiritually, then you will be constantly hungry for more of the Word of God. On the other hand, if you’re an unhealthy believer, you won’t be.
Ungodly people were influencing the Israelites. That is why the apostle Paul warned, “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14 NLT).
The Message states it this way: “Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark?”
Think about who your influences are. Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future. If, as a Christian, you hang around people who don’t believe as you believe, they can influence you and bring you down. That is what the mixed multitude did with the Israelites. So be very careful.
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