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“The Brunt of Our Infidelity”
The Brunt of Our Infidelity
Wade Webster
Infidelity has long-lasting consequences. An interesting statement is found in the fourteenth chapter of the book of Numbers. “And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. Say to them, As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection. I the LORD have spoken this. I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die’” (Numbers 14:26-35). The adults that failed to trust God and to take the land of Canaan felt the sting of their infidelity. They wandered in the wilderness for forty years or until they died, whichever came first. However, God said that their sons would bear the brunt of their infidelity. I couldn’t help but think of how true this is in multiple areas of life.
If we as Americans don’t remember the grace that God has shed on us, our children will bear the brunt of our infidelity. The Bible warns, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God” (Psa. 9:17). If we fail to make good moral choices, our children will bear the brunt of our infidelity. Solomon declared, “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34). If we fail to remember the tremendous price that has been paid for our freedom, then our children will again bear the brunt of our infidelity (Lam. 1:5).
If we as husbands and wives fail to honor our marriage vows, our children will bear the brunt of our infidelity. Malachi wrote, “And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. Yet you say, “For what reason?”Because the LORD has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. “For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the LORD of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously” (Mal. 2:13-16). Children that grow up in homes broken by infidelity often struggle in their own marriages. They often have trust issues and self-esteem issues. Parents, especially those guilty of infidelity, like to argue that their actions do not adversely affect their children. However, this is not the case. Sin shares its sorrows with the sinner and many more.
If we as Christians are not faithful in our relationship to God, our children will bear the brunt of our infidelity. If we don’t make time for worship, for prayer, and for Bible study, our children will bear the brunt of our infidelity. That is just one of many reasons why we must make these things a priority (Heb. 10:25; 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Thess. 5:17). If we don’t seek God and His kingdom first, then our children will bear the brunt of our infidelity. Jesus declared, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Mat. 6:33). If our affections are not on things above, then our children will bear the brunt of our infidelity. Paul wrote, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:1-5). Infidelity to God will cost us our souls and may cost our children theirs through our negative influence.
Each of us must carefully consider the cost of our infidelity. It will cost us, but it might cost those who follow us even more. Our children may bear the brunt of our infidelity.
