“We need to pick out some new seats,” I told Lynne as we were leaving for church. Sunday was our first service in our new building, and we wanted to sit closer to the front of the church. For several years, I have been part of the security team, and we typically sat in the back right corner of the sanctuary. As we were talking about where to sit, this thought came into my mind: We’ll just sit with the “mixed multitude.” Then I was like, Where did that come from?
I knew where it came from. I’ve learned over the years to not automatically dismiss a thought like that. Sure enough, the Lord wanted me to write about the “mixed multitude.” In Exodus 12, we see the children of Israel departing from Egypt after the first born of the Egyptians were struck down. “A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds.” (Exodus 12:38, ESV) The Hebrew word translated “mixed multitude” is ereb, which is defined as a “mingled crowd” (Young’s Concordance). Scripture doesn’t tell us why the mixed multitude followed the Israelites out of Egypt, but suffice it to say, they weren’t a positive influence.
Reading a little further, we see them creating problems for the children of Israel. “Now the rabble [‘mixed multitude,’ KJV] that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, ‘Oh that we had meat to eat!’” (Numbers 11:4, ESV) The enemy is subtle. The “mixed multitude” will follow the people of God and often give the impression of following God Himself, but their heart is not set on God. They are the ones who challenge the direction of the church, suggesting a trajectory away from holiness and a passionate worship of King Jesus.
In Nehemiah 13, God’s people had returned from exile in Babylon, and the Temple and city walls are rebuilt under Nehemiah’s leadership. As the Book of the Law was read to the people, it had a purifying effect on them. “As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent [‘mixed multitude,’ KJV].” (Nehemiah 13:3, ESV) I have no doubt that, as we start having services in our new building, the “mixed multitude” will inevitably come.
So how do we as Christians deal with the “mixed multitude”? First and foremost, we live out the life King Jesus has called us to. When we love one another and care for one another, we are living out Jesus’s commandment. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35, ESV) Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8).
Second, we look for fruitfulness in people’s lives. While we are not called to judge people with regard to their motives, we are called to observe the spiritual fruit in an individual’s life. Jesus tells us to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-16, ESV). This would be a wise course of action for us as well.
We saw in Nehemiah 13 that the teaching of the law resulted in a separation of God’s people from the mixed multitude. Years later, however, when Nehemiah returned from Babylon, the people were once again entangled in marriages to foreign wives and not contributing to the support of the priesthood. As with our nation’s security, eternal vigilance is the price for protecting the Bride of Christ from the influence of the “mixed multitude.”
What say ye, Man of Valor?Semper Fidelis!
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