When a rock is dropped into a lake, waves emanate from the place where the rock was dropped. A larger rock will result in larger waves that go further from the place where the rock was dropped. Anything floating on the water will be affected by the waves.
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A boat going fast enough through the water will cause a wake. The wake can be very large if the boat is very large or going very fast. The wake may cause instability for anyone caught in the wake.
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Similarly, each of us can cause ripples or wakes by our choices and actions that can impact those around us. While we often think we can make choices that affect only us, the impact of our choices affects others. Sometimes that effect is localized and small, while other times it may be far-reaching in terms of the number of people who are impacted or the amount of time for the effects.
The most profound example of this is Adam and Eve and the decision they made (and carried out) to eat the fruit off of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Their decision and action brought sin and death upon the entire human race.
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Romans 5:12: Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people...
Watkin Roberts was a missionary in India in the early 1900s. He heard about a tribe in Northeast India that were headhunters. He felt called by God to go teach the tribe about Jesus. In the week that he was there, he was able to lead one of the chiefs of the tribe to faith in Jesus. Five leaders ended up believing in Christ, and Watkin Roberts began teaching them about Jesus.
The British government was in charge of India at the time and told him he could not stay in the tribal area any longer. He was sad to leave when he had only seen a few of the leaders come to faith in Christ. He was unsure what would happen to them in their newfound faith. However, he had no choice but to leave the area.
The five new Christian leaders began to share their newfound faith with the rest of the tribe, so that 90% of the Hmar tribe in Manipur is now Christian. They have built a hospital, started multiple schools, and sent missionaries to other parts of India.
One of the 5 leaders sent his son, Rochunga, to a missionary school to learn to read and write so he could one day translate the Bible into their native language, which did not even have a written language at that point. Rochunga later went to seminary and, while in seminary, created a written language for his tribe and then translated the Bible into their native language. The tribe later reconnected with Watkin Roberts in Canada and repeatedly showed their deep gratitude for his obedience to God in bringing the gospel to them. (See https://www.biblesfortheworld.org/home/about-us/history-of-bftw/ for details about the above account.)
King David made many decisions that resulted in a positive impact upon all of Israel throughout the later generations. One of his worst decisions involved Bathsheba. II Samuel 11 has the account of David’s sin. The army went out to fight Ammon and Rabbah while David remained at his palace. During this time, from his roof, David saw Bathsheba bathing in a garden nearby, and lusted after her. David was told she was married, but he lay with her anyway, and she became pregnant. In an attempt to cover his sin, David sent orders for Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, to be sent home in hopes that he would lay with his wife. Since he would not, David ordered that Uriah be placed at the front of the army so that he would be killed in battle.
Uriah was killed, and David thought he had gotten away with his sin. He married Bathsheba when her time of mourning was over. Not long afterward, the Lord sent Nathan, a prophet in Israel, to rebuke David. In II Samuel 12:10, Nathan says,
“Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.” Verse 12 says, “Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and under the sun.”
Nathan also tells David that the baby that was conceived will die.
What a contrast in these 2 stories. Watkin Roberts obeyed, and most of the tribe was saved. David sinned in secret, and his family had to live with inner-family conflicts and war throughout its existence. We must note that what we think we do in secret will often become known, or its effects will be seen by others.
Another example of a poor decision affecting many people happened while the Israelites were in the wilderness after they escaped from Egypt. When they neared the Promised Land, Moses sent 12 men to spy out the land. The twelve men came back with two different reports. They all noted that the land had many resources, “flowing with milk and honey”.
They also returned with a very large cluster of grapes, as proof of the land’s fruitfulness. However, ten of the men reported that the people in the land were too big and strong to be conquered. Only Joshua and Caleb reported that though the people were big, God would allow them to take the land.
Most of the Israelites believed the ten men and feared the people of the land. As a result, they had to continue to wander in the wilderness for forty years until those who did not trust God died. God allowed Joshua and Caleb to live long enough to see the Israelites conquer the people in the Promised Land. They inherited God’s promise.
The story is recounted in Numbers 13-14. The Lord’s judgment of the people in Numbers 14:22 says the following,
Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs, which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it.
How sad that most of the people sinned against God as a result of a report from the 10 men. Joshua and Caleb tried to reason with them, to no avail.
Jesus is the best example of obedience, with far-reaching implications. Jesus’ reason for coming to earth was to die for our sin and be resurrected to prove His power over sin and death. However, in the hours leading up to His crucifixion, He was in the garden of Gethsemane agonizing.
Matthew 26:38-39: Then He (Jesus) said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Matthew26:42: He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
While Jesus asked that He not be required to suffer the agonizing pain and shame of the crucifixion, He understood the results of His obedience to His Father that would allow many to be reconciled to God. May we have the same long-term and unselfish view when we make decisions that may result in the detriment or blessing of those around us and in the future.
Prayer: Lord, I come to You and ask that You make me aware of the choices I make each day that may impact others. Please give me the courage and strength to remain obedient to Your word, Your promptings, and Your will. May I be willing to suffer shame, so that others may come into fellowship with You now, and in the future. In Your precious name, Amen.
May the Lord grant you strength as you continue to seek and obey Him.
Rhonda
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Ken and I are reading our way through the Old Testament together and have had similar thoughts to what you shared.
Thank you for the nice note. The Old Testament has so many lessons I am still learning. The Bible is such an amazing book – I learn something new every time I read it.