Nehemiah 13:3
“Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.”
After the wall was built, Nehemiah had to break many of the alliances these people made throughout their years of bondage. Nehemiah 13 shows several alliances the people had that were destroying the work God did through them in building the wall. It doesn’t help to build a wall to keep the enemy out when you align with those who will destroy you from within. There is no purpose in building a wall if you are going to bring within those who you are to keep out. There are three crowds of people we learn about with whom we are not to align.
First, mixed alliances are destructive alliances. It says in the verse above that there was a “mixed multitude” among them. This “mixed multitude” was a people who were part Jew and part Ammonite or Moabite. You cannot run with the world and think that it won’t affect you. When you allow mixed alliances in your life, those alliances will affect your perception towards right and wrong. These people influenced the Jews to the point where they were willing to build a chamber for Tobiah who was their enemy. You have no business as a Christian running with the world. When you start joining up with the world, you will find your children will eventually marry them. Mixed alliances will not only destroy your fellowship with God, but it will align your children with the world.
Second, evil alliances are destructive alliances. It is very interesting that the very person who tried to stop the building of the wall was the very person they built a chamber for in the house of God. Tobiah was their chief enemy, but they built a chamber for him to their own destruction. Always remember that you can never make an alliance with those who are trying to destroy you. They will try to persuade you to compromise, but what they don’t tell you is that they will never move. They always want you to be the first one to move, and when you move they will stay where they are. Never sit down at the negotiating table with those who want to destroy you. There is nothing to discuss, so don’t try to make alliances with them with the thought that it will create peace between you. The only time the evil alliances will agree with you is when you follow their practices and beliefs.
Third, directional alliances will destroy you. In verse 23, there were those who married people whose direction was wrong. One of the most important things that you will determine in life is a person’s direction. When someone’s direction is different then yours, then don’t align yourself with them. When you make alliances with those who are directionally different, then those alliances will eventually turn you from what you are supposed to do.
All it takes to destroy your life is one wrong alliance. I often tell people that you are as strong as your weakest friend. Let me encourage you to look at the alliances you have in your life and be sure that God would be pleased with them. Any destructive alliance you have should be put away. Your alliances will not only influence who you become, but they will determine who your children will marry. If you keep the right alliances, then you will keep the right direction.