Korah, Dathan, Abiram and all the other men of the company of Korah were destroyed for their wickedness. The earth opened and swallowed them up, because of their sin in rebelling against Moses and Aaron. Moses warned the people to depart from Korah so that they would not be consumed in all their sins (see Numbers 16:1-33 and Numbers 26:9-10)
“And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.” - Numbers 16:26
Are we so naïve as to think that we can keep company with the wicked and not be consumed in their sins?
In Numbers 22:9 God asked Balaam the son of Beor “What men are these with thee?”
What would God say of the company we keep?
But first and foremost what would God say of us?
In Numbers 22:1-41 we can see the story of Balaam, and that God allowed him (I say allowed because God’s original instructions were for Balaam not to go with them) to go with them, but only on the condition that he only do and say what God would tell him to.
This may also be the case for us. God may allow us to keep company with the wicked, but he would only allow us this if we only do and say what he wants us to do and say (that is if we do not take part in their sins).
But we must also beware that we be not as the Pharisees. For they criticized Christ for keeping company with sinners. But we, as followers of Christ are called to lead sinners to salvation. We cannot do that without keeping company with sinners sometimes. But we must never partake of their sins, this limits where we can go.
“And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” - Matthew 9:10-13
And so it is concluded by the words of our Master and Lord (John 13:13) “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” - Matthew 10:16
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