"It's extraordinary that so many, even of professing Christians, are content to go with the many, notwithstanding the warnings against so doing, both of the law and the Gospel." - The Pulpit Commentary
"We must be prepared to face unpopularity if we would walk in accordance with the Law of God." - Ellicott's Commentary
Exodus 23:2 says - "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil..."
In this verse of Scripture, "following a multitude" - in their counsel or their example - is prohibited! This prohibition implies that every person is naturally disposed to "follow a multitude to do evil."
There is a real tendency in our society to "follow the crowd" - to run with the pack and stampede with the herd! We have several adages to prove this point -
"Everyone is doing it!"
"All my friends are doing it!"
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do!"
We call this - "going with the flow" - which means to do what other people are doing...to agree with the opinions of others...and to consign yourself to the order and pace of others.
But, what does the Bible say about all this?
Exodus 23:2 says - "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil..."
What's implied here is that the majority or great mass of mankind are uniformly and constantly engaged in doing evil - making the majorities so often wrong and popular opinion not always right.
The danger of it all is that men are naturally disposed to copy the example of those who should not be imitated because they are unlawful, bad, and dishonorable guides.
The Biblical Illustrator said - "If all men are naturally disposed to follow the multitude to do evil, then the rising generation are always in a peculiarly dangerous situation."
What is really alarming is that many today are making decisions to"follow the crowd."
Some are facing situations where they are questioning some of their deepest held Christian beliefs because of peer pressure.
The pressure coming from friends, family, co-workers, and society in general is real! The pressure of sociability - which includes the desire not to be different and the dread of being left out - is making it extremely difficult to stand against the crowd.
Yet, I remind you what the Word of God says to you today - "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil..." (Exodus 23:2)
Familyshare (blog written by Wendy Jessen) made it very clear why you should not"follow the crowd" -
"...Matters of right and wrong don't change just because that is what the majority declares."
"Right is right and wrong is wrong even when the world says otherwise."
"...the world is blurring the lines of right and wrong, making a clear choice difficult. Justifying and rationalizing are common culprits of making right seem wrong and wrong seem right. Regardless of the views of the world, right is still right and wrong is still wrong."
Russell Nelson, known as a religious leader, added this - "...Even if 'everyone is doing it,' wrong is never right. Evil, error, and darkness will never be true, even if popular."
And, lastly, we quote what the Biblical Illustrator said concerning this - "That the measures of right and wrong are not to be determined by the majority. Good and evil are fixed immutable principles; and their natures are unchangeable, whether many or few follow them."
Once again, Exodus 23:2 says - "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil..."
In Proverbs 1:10-16, Solomon describes a situation where a young man "follows a multitude to do evil." This "son" "gets in with the wrong crowd" in pursuit of instant wealth.
Solomon warns all not to "follow the crowd" with these words -"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause...Let us swallow them up alive as the grave...We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil..."
Then again, in Proverbs 4:14-17, he warns all not only to "not follow a multitude to do evil," but to clearly avoid the path of the wicked at all costs by saying -"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief...For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence."
Throughout the Bible, we find example after example of those who"followed the multitude to do evil."
For instance, in Exodus 32:1-4, we find how Aaron "followed the multitude" in creating a golden calf. Moses "delayed to come down out of the mount" so the people "gathered themselves together" unto him - requesting him to make them gods. Aaron instructed them to bring him their "golden earrings." With these, he made them a "molten calf" and said -"These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."
Just how many Pastors/Preachers today are doing the same as Aaron in "following the multitude to do evil"? Because the people want to be just like the world, they are requesting worldly programs, pageantries, entertainment, etc. to be used in place of the Presence of the Lord. And like Aaron, many preachers are caving in to the pressure.
In 1 Samuel 15:3, Saul is given God's mandate through the Prophet Samuel -"Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey."
However, in verse 9, we find that he "followed the multitude to do evil" in that he"spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly."
When rebuked by Samuel for his disobedience to the Lord, Saul responded by saying - "...Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal." (1 Samuel 15:20-21)
Then, in verse 24, he confessed - "...I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice."
Just how many today are guilty of "transgressing the commandment of the LORD" because they "feared the people, and obeyed their voice" rather than God's? They "followed a multitude to do evil" and, in so doing, have disobeyed the clear order from the Lord and are presently suffering the consequences!
Exodus 23:2 says -"Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil..."
This is not a suggestion! It is a command from God to you!
"Though the world blurs the lines of right and wrong"..."regardless of the views of the world"... "even if everyone is doing it"..."right is still right and wrong is still wrong." The "measures of right and wrong are not determined by the majority" but by God's Holy Word!
We leave you with these final quotes -
"In a world of changing views, it can be hard to remain true to God's laws." - Familyshare
"Do that which is godly, though few favor it." - Geneva Study Bible
"Of course we will face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God's approval..." - Thomas Manson, religious leader
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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