Often people don’t realize that their actions do create a reaction.
Reference: v.34 For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you. (TNIV Bible)
Explore: Have you ever seen the Mentos & Diet Coke experiment? If you are to add a couple of Mentos into a bottle of Diet Coke the liquid will explode out of the top of the bottle. The best youtube video I found on this is here: Diet Coke + Mentos. This is a really obvious case of an action creating a reaction. Action = mixing two ingredients together; Reaction = Diet Coke spraying everywhere.
Application: Often people don’t realize that their actions do create a reaction. If you smile at someone you tend to get a smile in return. If you hit someone you will either get a hit back or some fairly stern words! This passage in Numbers shows us that God reacts to our actions. The Israelites were complaining again and although God showed them grace by not wiping them all out He showed them that their actions had a reaction – if they did not trust God then they would not enter into the Promised Land. For us, God totally has our backs, however if we act in a particular way then there will be a natural reaction. While we can say that we believe in God we are encouraged to act in such a way that is pleasing to Him and we will find ourselves truly blessed.
Prayer: Lord, many people say they believe in You however they do not act in a way that would be pleasing to You. May we live to honor You and to only seek Your praise. Amen.
How are you actions shaping up at the moment?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.