Who’s Influencing You?
“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 Bible calls them “foreign rabble,” “mixed multitude,” or even “riffraff,” depending on the translation you’re reading. So who were these people? It appears they weren’t believers. They joined the Israelites as they left Egypt.
They probably were impressed with the wonder-working God of Israel, and they, too, wanted to escape. Although they’d left Egypt, apparently Egypt never left them.
And when they started to complain, the Israelites started to complain: “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!” (Numbers 11:5–6 nlt).
The foreign rabble were a bad influence on God’s people. And I find it interesting that they hated manna. Even though it was bread from Heaven, sent by God, they said, “We hate it. We don’t want that manna in our lives.”
This is why the apostle Paul warns, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14 nkjv).
The Message puts 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?”
Here’s a real test of your spiritual life: Do you look forward to Bible study, or do you dread it? That’s an indication of where you are spiritually, because a hungry believer is a healthy believer.
So think about who influences you. Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future. If you spend your time hanging around with people who don’t share your beliefs as a Christian, they can influence you and bring you down. Be very careful.
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