Bad Company“‘Woe to the rebellious children,’ says the LORD, ‘who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who walk to go down to Egypt, and have not asked My advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!’” (Isaiah 30:1-2) In the 2002 movie Bad Company, Anthony Hopkins is a mentor at the CIA to new recruit Chris Rock who is the twin brother of a Harvard-educated CIA agent killed in action. Nobody wants bad company, but many of us at one time or another have entered into a relationship with someone we knew we’re not supposed to like Michelle Pfeiffer in Married to the Mob. Throughout the history of Israel, the people were called to come out of the old way of life in Egypt. But when things got tough, the children of Israel reverted to what was comfortable because they always knew they could go back to Egypt and find what they lacked. Their reasoning was if we can’t get it done the new way, why not go back to the old way because at least we know we can get it there. Why do things God’s way which are so mysterious and appears so foolish when we can just go to Burger King in Egypt and have it our way? Such was the fallacious reasoning behind them making and worshipping the golden calf while Moses was away on Mount Sinai hanging out with God for 40 days and 40 nights before receiving the Ten Commandments. The children of Israel spent 40 years to reach the Promised Land on a trip that should have taken only 11 days because of their complaining and disobedience. When God calls us into a higher calling or a spiritual walk of faith, we can expect to be tested again and again to make sure that we have left Egypt for good. God wants to make sure that we are no longer under the influence of the flesh, the world, and the devil before He promotes us. If we enter into Dangerous Liaisons that God has not ordained, it will only bring us suffering and heartache like it did for Israel. “Therefore the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame, and trust in the shadow of Egypt shall be your humiliation.” (Isaiah 30:3) We must examine what we perceive as an alliance, a partnership or a relationship that may advance our business or personal objectives, for it may actually bring us pain and suffering if God has not directed us to do so. We need to ask what the motive is behind any potential liaison to make sure that it is not based on fear, greed, lust or a temporary fix. Pray, study the Word of God, and seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit to get confirmation that indeed God is leading us to enter into such a relationship so that we will not end up like Israel, experiencing shame, humiliation, and wandering needlessly in the desert for 40 years.Copyright © 2003 Eddy Ministries. All rights reserved. Subscribe/Unsubscribe: eddyn@earthlink.net
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