Stop following the wrong people.

Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of King Asa's reign in Judah, and he became the next king of Israel. He immediately slaughtered all the descendants of King Jeroboam, so that not one of the royal family was left, just as the LORD had promised concerning Jeroboam by the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh. This was done because Jeroboam had provoked the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, by the sins he had committed and the sins he had led Israel to commit. (1 Kings 15:28-30 NLT)

Baasha did a good job with a tough calling.  The LORD wanted to have Nadab put to death for his rebellion against God and for his father’s rebellion against God.  The LORD sent a prophet to tell him that his entire family line would be stopped.  Baasha was given the responsibility by God to carry out this justice.

Baasha son of Ahijah began to rule over all Israel in the third year of King Asa's reign in Judah. Baasha reigned in Tirzah twenty-four years. But he did what was evil in the LORD's sight and followed the example of Jeroboam, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.  (1 Kings 15:33-34 NLT)

You would think that Baasha would understand the ramifications of going up against God.  He was, after all, the arm of the LORD against Jeroboam, Nadab, and his family.  But, he clearly did not learn from his actions.  He followed the same pattern that they did.  He did not walk with God.  Instead, he followed the example of people who were in rebellion against God.

How about you?  Have you ever hung out with the “wrong crowd”?  Did it affect your walk together with God?  Did it affect the way you treated people?  Do you need to stop following the wrong people?