Mixed Multitude

by Mike James

As we near the fall holy days, I think it is important to reflect on what the fall holy days symbolize. One of the primary themes of these days is the salvation of humanity. Not all humanity, but I believe God will have more success than Satan.

I think it is important to reflect on the fact that God's plan was always with all of humanity and not just one nation or people. Oh yes, there is a story within the story, God working with Israel, but the bigger story was God's plans for all of humanity and not just one group.

Since this is a short blog, I will not be able to provide all the biblical evidence for my opinion, but I think you will get the picture.

The first point I would like to make is that most of biblical history addresses humanity in general and not just Israel. There is a lot of speculation on when Adam and Eve date back too, but let's just take the typical estimates out there of a possible beginning at around 4000 B.C.

Israel as a nation does not begin until Moses received the law somewhere around 1400-1200 B.C. I'm not going to get into the various debates on the timing, so this is a general idea. The demise of Israel as a nation occurred by 720 B.C., and Judah was destroyed in 586 B.C. No doubt God still has these people in His plan, but we have had another 2,000 years of history since Christ, where the focus is on salvation being open to anyone.

If we add the first 2,600 years of history to the last 2,000 years of history, we see a focus by God not on Israel and Judah, but a focus on humanity in general. So that is roughly a 4,600-year focus of history on something other than Israel. We could argue the focus was on Israel until Christ was resurrected—a period of focus for Israel of roughly 1,400 years.

The second point I would like to make addresses the history of Israel and Judah when God had a focus on them. Despite this focus, we see people other than physical Israelites were also part of the mix that made up Israel. Perhaps the greatest example of this is the "mixed multitude" that came up out of Egypt with Israel. Not much is said in Scripture about this group of people, but we can speculate a bit on who they were.

We read about this in Exodus 12:38, where we read about a "mixed multitude" or "many other people," depending on the translation. These other people were most likely Egyptians who had been impacted by the plagues God wrought on Egypt.

Notice some evidence for this in Exodus 9:20, where we read about some of Pharaoh's officials who feared the word of God and brought their slaves and animals under cover during the plague of hail. Obviously, since they were impacted by what God was doing in Egypt, they were likely part of the "mixed-multitude" that left Egypt with the Israelites.

Other scriptures make it clear that God was using the plagues to impact the Egyptians and hopefully convince them He was real. We see evidence of this in the following scriptures: Exodus 7:5; 8:19; 9:14, 16. It seems clear that some Egyptians were convinced and decided to get out of town with Israel due to the power of their God.

So right from the beginning of the nation of Israel, they are not a singular people. These Egyptians and most likely some of their other slaves mixed into the population of Israel right from the start.

But that is only part of the story. Here is a little more evidence that Israel is not just about DNA or exclusive to a racial or genetic component. Moses married a Midianite (Exodus 2:16-21). Rahab was a Canaanite (Joshua 2:1-2; Matthew 1:5). Ruth was a Moabite (Ruth 1:4, 16, 17; Matthew 1:5). Uriah was a Hittite (2 Samuel 11:3). King David's personal bodyguards were Cherethites and Pelethites (1 Chronicles 18:17), who were foreign mercenaries. Also, note what happened in Esther 8:17 when "many people" converted to the Jewish way.

I could go on and on with many of the prophecies in the Old Testament that make it clear God's ultimate vision was for all of humanity to become one, but I think Galatians 3:28 echoes what the prophets say: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Obviously, the full impact of this verse will not be felt until the future resurrections. But there will be no division among God's people; we will all be one as the Father and Son are One (John 17:11). John 17:20 makes it clear that Jesus does not just want Oneness with those in the first century who learn of God, but anyone in the future who comes to learn of God. And once again, we know from prophetic scriptures and the New Testament that God's message will fill the world, and all will have an opportunity for the same salvation.

As you prepare for the coming Feast of Tabernacles, meditate on these things.