FAITH CAPSULE: Are you on course for your breakthrough journey?
Numbers 11
The Israelites failed to disengage multitude as they engaged their breakthrough journey. Exodus 12:37-38 records: “Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. A mixed multitude went up with them…” For the Israelites, a mixed-up multitude is an unholy mix-up. At the time of departure, it does not seem dangerous for the Israelites to have a mixed multitude among them on their breakthrough journey. As they progressed on the journey, the effect of mixed multitude caused trouble for the Israelites. The Bible records in Numbers 11:4-6, “Now the mixed multitudes who were among them yielded to intense craving; so, the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” Mixed multitude’s trouble for the Israelites was the initiation of Israelites complaining before God. The multitude was like an agent of trouble in the journey of Israelites. God responded to the complaint of Israelites as stated: “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.” (Numbers 14:27-30)
Interestingly, in the breakthrough of Israelites, Pharaoh and his chariots could not deny the Israelites’ breakthrough, the Red Sea could not hold back the Israelites from breaking forth. However, mixed multitude set them up for their journey termination. Are you on course for your breakthrough journey? Is there any mixed multitude with you as your company?
Here are some warning signals that you have allowed mixed multitude on your journey:
Mix-multitude will keep reminding you of the past when you need to focus on where the Lord is taking you.
Mix-multitude will only cause you to crave for what you do not need so you will cave into complaining instead of complimenting God.
Mix-multitude will cause one to worry in the place of worship.
Mix-multitude will direct one’s focus on world activity instead of focusing on God.
Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you from all that represents mixed multitude in your journey of life.