And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” Numbers 16:20
Back when I drank, I enjoyed ice fishing. Or, rather, I should say that I enjoyed the environment of ice fishing. My wife never came out to the fish house, which meant it was the perfect sanctuary where I could enjoy my alcohol and tobacco. Later, after I got sober and gave up alcohol and tobacco, I found that my desire to ice fish had radically diminished. A few winters went by when I didn’t even use my fish house, so I gave it away. I simply didn’t have any desire to put myself in that environment anymore. Yes, it meant giving up one of the few winter recreational activities in Minnesota, and yes, it meant not spending time in the fish house with the guys, but I knew that if I wanted recovery, I didn’t belong out there. So, on Saturday mornings in the winter, I now find myself drinking coffee with a group of guys who know how badly they need God in their lives. If I want my life to go in a certain direction, I must surround myself with those who also want to go that way.
Be careful who you surround yourself with. That’s the lesson of today’s passage. In the story, three Israelite men, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, launched a coup, attempting to topple Moses from the position of authority which God had granted him. Moses issued a challenge, believing that God would make it clear who Israel’s leader was supposed to be. The next day, as all the Israelites gathered for the showdown, God commanded Moses and his followers to physically distance themselves from the rebels. Then, the ground under them split apart. And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up (Numbers 16:31-32). Anyone who stood with the insurgents met the same fate.
My point isn’t that ice fishing is unhealthy. My point is that I must be careful about my environment. Whether I like it or not, I’m heavily influenced by my surroundings. If I want to stay sober, I can’t sit with friends in a bar. If I want to follow God’s will for my life, I must spend time with those who also want that. Living in faith and recovery means that I must be purposeful about my life choices. This will mean sacrifice, which others may not understand, but that’s not my primary concern. My primary concern is that I must daily choose a healthy environment, surrounding myself with those who desire that their lives go in the same direction I want mine to go.