Numbers 11:4: Now the rabble (mixed multitude) that was among them had a strong craving; and the people of ISRAEL also wept again, and said: “O that we had meat to eat!
When God planned to rescue the Israelites from Egypt, he was aiming at saving the biological descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob. However, when they set-off, it seems there was another class of people that jumped on the bandwagon and decided to go with the Israelites.
This group of people is called the Rabble or Mixed Multitude. The Hebrew word is Aspesuph which can be translated as a: Collection of variety. These were people from three classes or backgrounds:
- The first category was the product of the marriages between an Israelite and an Egyptian
- The second category was hopeless and destitute Egyptians, who had failed in life
- The third category were other foreigners, not Egyptians and not Israelites, but wandering people in Egypt
This group of people joined the Exodus on the way according to Exodus 12:38. They are quietly influencing the audience until we get in Numbers 11:4 when they practically influence action among the Israelites.
There is an English saying: Bad company corrupts good conduct and I see it displayed here.
- First, the exodus was not for the rabble but for the Israelites. However, the rabble joined. In this fallen WORLD, whenever God is taking you somewhere, the Devil will put his agents on the same bus. Am telling you there are people at work, at home (in your house), at school, on your team, who are not on God’s mission but on Satan’s agenda.
- It is not the Israelites that have the craving but the rabble. Look here, what the Israelites are complaining about is not original with them, but a vice and an appetite that has been passed onto them. They are fighting and claiming, not their interest, but someone else’s interest. If you have been to Uganda, am sure you have seen young men who have died running after Besigye/Museveni in political campaigns.
- God doesn’t mind this company on the plane because, in the wilderness, it doesn’t matter what happens to you but rather what matters is how you react.
God doesn’t mind the presence of the weed as long as the good seed does not become the weed. At harvest time, he will tell the reapers:
Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn Mathew 13:30,40.
It is important that in our stay on earth, we are careful with the rabble. It is important that we watch their cravings and avoid them. When God speaks to us and assigns us to a mission or sets us on a journey to our destiny, we must, by all means, detect the rabble amidst us and distance ourselves from them.
The Bible says in Nehemiah 13:3 that:
When the people heard the law, they separated from ISRAEL all those of FOREIGN descent.
My friend, am not preaching discrimination, am preaching discernment. Get to know WHO is advising you about your spouse, your mission, etc and WHY.
I wish I could continue. God bless you, I invoke TRUTH, REASON, and FAITH
Pr. ITM White
The Gospel Hawker
iTiS Well of Worship Fellowship (John 4:24) 