Hanging Out in the Enemy’s Camp

Have you ever been in a place you weren’t supposed to be—and paid the price for it? I’ll never forget a moment from my childhood that still sticks with me today. My siblings and I snuck off to a neighbor’s house to play, without telling our parents. It seemed harmless at the time—just kids being kids. But then something terrifying happened. My brother jumped off a bunk bed and hit his head on a spinning ceiling fan. He was badly injured and needed emergency medical care. Thankfully, he survived, but it shook all of us.

That accident could’ve been avoided. If we had stayed where we were supposed to be—under adult supervision and within our parents’ boundaries—my brother wouldn’t have been hurt. That day taught me a powerful lesson: there’s real danger in stepping outside of the boundaries God has placed for our protection.

In Numbers 25:1–9, the Israelites made a similar mistake, though theirs was spiritual and moral rather than physical. After being divinely protected from Balaam’s curse (Numbers 22–24), they let down their guard. They started mingling with the Moabites—eating with them, partying with them, and worst of all, worshiping their false god, Baal of Peor.

God’s response was swift and serious. Numbers 25:3 says, “So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.”

His anger was kindled, and a devastating plague broke out—twenty-four thousand people died. Why? Because God’s people stepped out of His protection and into the enemy’s camp.

This story is more than just a history lesson—it’s a warning. In 2 Corinthians 6:14–16, Paul pleads with believers not to be “unequally yoked” with unbelievers. God calls us to be distinct, to live differently. Not because He’s trying to limit us, but because He wants to protect us.

When we compromise—when we dabble in relationships, habits, or environments that pull us away from God—we weaken our defenses. We open ourselves up to influence, temptation, and even destruction.

1 Peter 5:8 puts it plainly - “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Lions don’t attack the herd. They go after the isolated, the stragglers—the ones hanging around the edge. That’s why it’s so important to stay in the center of God’s will. When we start flirting with the enemy’s territory, we make ourselves vulnerable.

Being a Christian isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being intentional. It means constantly asking, “Am I where God wants me to be?” Am I hanging out in environments that compromise my faith? Am I forming alliances or relationships that are pulling me away from God instead of drawing me closer? The safest place you can be is in the center of God’s will. Even when it’s not the easiest or most popular place—it’s the most secure.

God doesn’t ask us to be separate from the world to punish us. He does it to protect us. So the next time you’re tempted to “hang out in the enemy’s camp,” remember: obedience isn’t just about rules—it’s about refuge.

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