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We do not live in an isolated world, what you do can affect other people and what other people do can affect you.
From Series: Life Lessons Learned from the Bible - Joshua 7
The bad choices we make have ramifications,
not only on yourself, but also on those around you.
Here’s a story of how one man's choice literally destroyed his entire family. Many of us can relate to this story because our parents did things in the past that have caused us to reap the ramification of their decision.
Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took all of Achan’s possessions. Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.” Then all Israel murdered Achan and his family... Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger - Joshua 7:24-26 ( Edited with own interpretation )
The Israelites went to war with Jericho and one of the orders God gave them was to not take the devoted things (things God wants for Himself) with them, but Achan who was from the family of Judah coveted what he saw and took a beautiful robe, some money, and hid them in his living quarters. His choice not only caused him to die but also his children.
We can see the same consequence play out in our lives today. Some of us are paying the price for the actions our parents did and are either struggling to get out of it or is still in it.
Let’s take a look at Solomon in 1Kings chapter 11. God warned his people to not marry foreign women. It had nothing to do with them being foreign, it was because they worshipped idols and God did not want his people to be influence by their customs and way of life. Solomon did not listen to God and because of his disobedience he was influenced, deceived, and started to worship other Gods. Twice the Lord appeared to Solomon to warn him to not do the things he did; nevertheless, Solomon still disobeyed. His self-serving decision affected his generation and an entire nation.
Solomon’s story shows us how even as a leader what you do affects the people you are leading. Whether you are leading in business, politics, ministry, or family, your choices affect other people too. We do not live in an isolated world - what you do affects those around you. Your choices can influence the outcome of those close to you and over the lives of people you lead.
Because of God’s promise and being someone who is faithful to His word, the whole kingdom (nation) wasn’t taken away from Solomon but instead split, and Solomon's son was only able to keep one nation out of the twelve that should have been his. Sadly, his son lost 11 nations or countries that was his birthright, and Solomon no longer lived in peace because God caused adversaries to come against him.
Another example is Adam, who lived a life with God (walked with God); he saw God, and felt God, and knew God like no other person on earth did at the time. He had great wisdom because he named all the animals in creation. However, Adam listened to his wife instead of the instructions God gave him and did something God said not to do ( Genesis 3:1-24 ). Adams choice to disobey God caused him and his family to be expelled from paradise causing his lifestyle to change from having it all like freedom, provision, health, abundance and more to living a life of hardship.
Exodus 34:7 says, "Maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” And Romans 5:18 says,"So one man’s sin brought guilt to all people. In the same way, one right act made people right with God. That one right act gave life to all people." Like Romans 5:18 mentioned fortunately we have Jesus Christ who is the only capable person to correct or makeup for our wrongdoings (sins).
These Scriptures show us when we do wrong it can become a united problem because we are all connected in some way. One action from you can create a domino effect.
As this blog is being written there is a war happening between Russia and Ukraine and although there are people in both nations who do not want the war to happen, thousands of people are at risk of being killed because of one person's choice to fight. That decision has caused many people to suffer and ruin the economy.
Let's bring it closer. There's a man who was dishonest and manipulative. He would deceive people in order to get money or things from them. There was no limit to how far he would go to get what he wanted. If it meant lying, stealing, or more, he did it. Ultimately his actions affected his children. People caused harm to his children in order to revenge what he did to them. His wrongs (sins) affected his children's way of living.
Fortunately, this story ends well. His children did not follow the same behavior patterns of their father and because they had a relationship with God, God’s grace and mercy changed their terrible start in life to a beautiful ending. To this day they are living in God's protection, favor, and love. Unfortunately, this is not everyone's ending. Within the same family his brother was also a manipulator and deceiver, and one of his children died because his child paid the consequence of his father's sins.
There are many real-life stories that can be told showing how the children of the parents who made bad choices were affected by life's tragedies. Their parents' choices opened the door to all sorts of ill-treatments, addictions, misfortunes, sickness, and poor living.
The takeaway is this, do not allow selfishness and carelessness to influence our choices because the outcome will affect you and everyone that you are connected with. When you have a relationship with God you become one with God and with this union you will be helped to make better and wiser decisions in life.
With God's wisdom, you will have insight to help you make sound decisions and sensible judgments that will help you to overcome difficulties and deal with any situation that you may encounter with the least possible losses.
Read what He says concerning your life because the Bible is your guide and prepares you for life.
Finally, let us do our generation a favor and be selfless, remain obedient to God’s instructions, commands, and warnings, to no longer harm those around us and to protect our legacy.
