BEWARE OF THE RABBLE
INTRODUCTION: THIS STUDY ADDRESSES ONE OF SEVERAL ISSUES THE ISRAELITES EXPERIENCED IN THEIR EXODUS JOURNEY FROM EGYPT. A MIXED MULTITUDE LEFT EGYPT ALONG WITH THE ISRAELITES. LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THESE PEOPLE. THEY HAD LARGE HERDS SO THEY WERE REASONABLY PROSPEROUS. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THEY WERE FAITHFUL TO JEHOVAH GOD BUT APPARENTLY KNEW THE STORIES OF HIS INTERVENTION IN ISRAEL’S ISSUES. OTHER NAMES USED FOR THIS GROUP ARE RABBLE, CROWD, CONTEMPTUOUS STRANGERS AND ALIENS. OPPORTUNITY PROBABLY DROVE THEIR AGENDA.
SPIRITUAL INSIGHT: EXODUS 12:38 (NKJV) A MIXED MULTITUDE WENT UP WITH THEM ALSO, AND THE FLOCKS AND HERDS-A GREAT DEAL OF LIVESTOCK.
NUMBERS 11:4 (THE BOOK- PARAPHRASE) 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.
THE MIXED MULTITUDE AND ISRAEL GREW TIRED OF THE DAILY MANNA PROVISION. THIS INDICATES THEIR OPPOSITION TO WHAT GOD GRACIOUSLY PROVIDED. INSTEAD OF THANKFULNESS, THEY COMPLAINED WITH CONTEMPT.
THE “RABBLE” DID LITTLE MORE THAN STIR UP THE POT OF DISCONTENT. THEIR DISCONTENT CREATED MORE PROBLEMS FOR MOSES AND THE ISRAELITES!
GOD DID NOT CHANGE NOR DID THE MANNA CHANGE: THE PEOPLE CHANGED!
APPLICATION: EXODUS 16: 31 (NKJV) AND THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL CALLED ITS NAME MANNA. AND IT WAS LIKE WHITE CORIANDER SEED, AND THE TASTE OF IT WAS LIKE WAFERS MADE WITH HONEY. SELFISHNESS AND COMPLAINING CONSUMED THEM. BE THANKFUL BELIEVERS, FOR THE THINGS GOD PROVIDES!
