Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
THE SINS OF THE FATHERS
Exodus 34:7: “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”
How do we reconcile this statement by God concerning His judgment upon the offspring of fathers to the third and fourth generation? God has just stated in the same context that He is merciful, gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Why is this beautiful picture distorted by His judgment upon the the children’s children?
I believe the answer lies in two choices each man has to make:
1. It is man’s responsibility to avail himself of God’s great goodness and grace. Man must choose to repent of his sinful ways in order to discover God’s abundant forgiveness.
2. If a man refuses to repent and genuinely seek God’s gracious forgiveness, he remains uncovered in his sin. But more seriously, if he remains in his sin, hardness of heart, and prideful state, it passes on to his children. This also happens as a direct result of his failure to train them to fear the Lord. How will they know the truth which is able to set them free if the father does not instruct them concerning truth?
Isaiah 38:19: “The father to the children shall make known thy truth.”
To be continued:
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
