Even if it’s not your fault it still hurts

What to do when the consequence of others sin affect you

Moses glared one more time across the river. The home and the blessing that he had been waiting and working for was just on the other side of the Jordan. He wanted to cross and had been looking forward to crossing and entering the promise land. If it was just up to him, they would have all ready crossed the river, but the heart of the people had been melted by ten of the spies that had crossed into Canaan. Now he was turning his back on all that God wanted for them - not because of his sin, but because of the sin of others. He was inseparably connected to these people, so their sin now would become his burden too. Imagine having to endure punishment and a deviation from Gods plan, because of the sin of people that you are closely connected with. The wife or the husband with a wayward spouse can understand. The parent with a wayward child can understand. The child with a parent bound in sin can understand. The church with a wayward pastor can understand. The pastor with a wayward church can understand. The question is not whether we are affected by the sin of others, but what we are to do when we find ourselves in that predicament. As Moses turned to face forty years in the wilderness, his prayer is recorded in Psalm 90, and is a great example of how to deal with the negative ramifications of this kind of sin. Moses will state both the facts that he knows about God and men.  He will then allow these facts to determine how he would like to respond to the unfortunate situation that he is in and that he did not cause. 

• Fact 1. God can be trusted because of his supreme eternal nature. vs 1-2
• Fact 2. God can be trusted because He is sovereign in His punishment of sinful man. vs 3-8
• Fact 3. God can be trusted because His punishment is purposeful to the benefit of His children. vs 10-12
• Fact 4. God can be trusted because His mercy during the consequence of sin will satisfy and give purpose to life. vs 14-15 

Based on these truths, Moses declares his desired response. Instead of consequence, he saw the continual work of God and the generational goal of glory being made available to their children based on their response to punishment. Moses desired that they would see the beauty of Godly correction so that they could establish their tomorrow instead of just lamenting over their yesterday. This would need to be his attitude for the next FORTY years. Moses had an amazing outlook as he turned away from all he had wanted, but could not have because of the sins of others. The lesson that Moses teaches us is incredible. The normal response to consequences that we go through because of others sin is bitterness, self righteousness, discouragement, self pity, or anger. All of these fleshly responses seem justified because it was not our choice that put us under this consequence, but all those responses also make it very hard to maintain joy, learn wisdom, or see how God is working through the situation. Where Moses could have seen hopelessness, he asked to see mercy, rejoicing, and gladness. Where he could have just seen punishment, he asked to see God’s work and the success of their children. Where he could have seen misery, he asked to see the beauty of the Lord. The people that you are leading or living with need someone who can see consequences as an opportunity, because even though they did not cross Jordan when they should have, Moses’ prayer would be answered and their children would know the glory of success. Moses’ attitude is not excusing or dismissing sin. On the contrary, it is allowing people to learn from their sin.  Instead of Moses allowing his natural feeling to determine his response, he stated and allowed the facts of God’s character and nature to determine his response. Only a meek man who loves God and his people more than himself could ever do that.