And the mixed multitude among them [the rabble who followed Israel from Egypt] began to lust greatly [for familiar and dainty food], and the Israelites wept again and said, Who will give us meat to eat? -Numbers 11:4
This is why everyone can’t go.
I heard God speak so clearly after I read this verse. It made me laugh because it confirmed my “letting go” process. God used Moses to lead the children of Israel out of slavery and bondage in Egypt. However, when it was time for them to make their exit, they allowed some of the Egyptians to come along for the journey. The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children. And a mixed multitude went also with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds-Exodus 12:37-38.
Well, what’s wrong with that? Maybe they just wanted to be free?!
God was getting ready to lead them into the Promised Land, but the Israelites weren’t ready. Because of this, the Lord led them through the wilderness. When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt. “So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea-Exodus 13:17-18.
The mixed multitude wasn’t meant to make the trip.
You can’t just yell, “All Aboard!” and bring everybody. Everyone can’t handle where God
wants to take you. It’s a hard concept to grasp at first because you believe that some people are just supposed to be there. I know when God revealed that He was ready to take me to a new place in Him, I was ready to start handing out bus tickets! But if we look at our example we see otherwise. They allowed the stragglers from their former life of slavery to determine how they felt about where God placed them. As a result, the mission to true freedom took longer than necessary.
Yes, ladies, this means your bitter, man-hating girlfriends have to bounce if you want God to send the right man your way. No, they can’t be bridesmaids!
Yes, fellas, this means “Delilah” has to roll if you believe God will lead you to the right woman. Especially since Delilah believes she is that woman!
Yes, ladies, this means that fine brotha you been flirting with for the past few months won’t be in the number. If you can’t tell him “no,” he can’t go!
No, the homies who only want to get high, hug the block and hustle can’t come either.
Some family members may even be left…
But even if you decide to cut the crew, your mindset has to change. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect-Romans 12:2. If we follow the Israelites through the wilderness we learn that they never took time to enjoy the place God put them because they lived in the past. Every time things seemed hard Israel got stuck on “Reminisce Road.” “Oh, that we were back in Egypt”, they moaned. “It would have been better if the Lord had killed us there! At least we would have plenty to eat. But now you have brought us into this desert to starve us to death”-Exodus 16:3. We learn that negativity and complaining are truly contagious. 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. The journey through the wilderness was meant to be short, but because the Israelites still had a “slave mentality” it took them 40 years to possess the land.
Some people don’t want to get on the bus. You may find you are the only one “yet holdin’.” We see that even Moses made the mistake of trying to mix the old with the new. One day Moses said to his brother-in-law, Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, “We are on our way to the place the Lord promised us, for he said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised wonderful blessings for Israel!” But Hobab replied, “No, I will not go. I must return to my own land and family.” “Please don’t leave us,” Moses pleaded. “You know the places in the wilderness where we should camp. Come, be our guide. If you do, we’ll share with you all the blessings the Lord gives us.”-Numbers 10:29-32. Don’t make the mistake of trying to force assignments on people God did not give them. People have their own lives and responsibilities. They may not have time to cater to all that is “you.” If they tell you, “Heck no, we won’t go!” believe them. Thank them for being honest and bounce.
Some people can’t handle the changes God has made in your life. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy-their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you-I Peter 4:3-4. You really don’t have time to be dragging people along who aren’t even sure if they want to be there or not. Do them a favor: let them go. Don’t get discouraged! Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth-Romans 3:3. If you feel that God is taking you to new places the Promised Land is packed with provision. You just have trust God enough to be obedient.
Some people can’t wait to get rid of you, God, and your changes, lol! Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night. “Get out!” he ordered. “Leave my people, and take the rest of the Israelites with you! Go and worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you said, and be gone. Go, but bless me as you leave.” All the Egyptians urged the people of Israel to get out of the land as quickly as possible, for they thought, “We will all die!”-Exodus 12:31-33. The righteousness that is being manifested in you is too much for the foolishness that is still manifested in them!
I think we all know what to do at this point, lol.
If you feel that the “Pillar of Cloud” is getting ready to move you to higher heights in Him, forcing you to question some of your current relationships-pray for discernment. Don’t get discouraged when God begins to show you who can’t get on the bus. Just do yourself a favor:
Leave the entourage in Egypt.
“Remember our history, friends, and be warned. All our ancestors were led by the providential Cloud and taken miraculously through the Sea. They went through the waters, in a baptism like ours, as Moses led them from enslaving death to salvation life. They all ate and drank identical food and drink, meals provided daily by God. They drank from the Rock, God’s fountain for them that stayed with them wherever they were. And the Rock was Christ. But just experiencing God’s wonder and grace didn’t seem to mean much most of them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert, and God was not pleased.
The same thing could happen to us. We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did.” -I Corinthians 10:1-6.
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