Comments on: Generational Sins

By: Tbow

Tbow — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:25:58 +0000

Am i understanding the July 19th reply to mean until a child is able to make a right or wrong decision according to the teachings they carry both the mothers and fathers burden of sin with them? I ask because Ezekiel 18:14-16,18-20 gives me a different thought process. I have heard this conversation before but never gave it this much thought until now.

By: Brody

Brody — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:42:50 +0000

I asked my friend/pastor William about those verses and his response made complete sense to me, so instead of re-writing it in my own words I figured I’d just share what he wrote on here:

The Numbers verse is a quote of exodus 34 6-7

I think it shows that God is a god of compassion but that his wrath is very real. Notice the part about all who are alive. You generally never have more than 4 generations alive in a family at one time so the sin is visited on everyone in the family who is alive…that’s the way I take it; not so much as a trickle down yet we do know that some factors do trickle down but in the end like you said its about choice

34:6–7. God’s attributes and willingness to punish to third and fourth generation. Moses had asked to “know” God’s ways (33:13), and this list of the thirteen attributes of God (according to Jewish tradition) serve as his answer. It is not unusual in the ancient world to find lists of various deities’ attributes. While mercy and justice figure prominently among them, many lists are more interested in attributes of power, while this one focuses on the benevolent graciousness of God. This list is quoted many times in the Scriptures (Num 14:18; Neh 9:17; Ps 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nah 1:3) and forms a sort of confessional statement. The litany of God’s characteristics is still used in Jewish liturgy today and was probably an established part of the temple worship prior to the exile. Although compassion, constancy and the reliability of God’s love are stressed, the consequences of failure to obey God’s command are made perfectly clear by the magnification of punishment on future generations (see Deut 5:9). Punishment to the third or fourth generation expresses the fact that covenant violation brings guilt on the entire family. “The third and fourth generation” thus refers to all living members of the family. This is a stark reminder of communal guilt after the incident of the golden calf (32:19–35).

By: Pokinatcha

Pokinatcha — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 02:26:11 +0000

Brody, what do you think this verse means then Numbers 14:18 The LORD [is] longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing [the guilty], visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation].

I think it means that a child’s upbringing very much has to do with how he turns out. If a child’s parents are in gross sin it will most definitely affect a child’s future. Unless God intervenes in Mercy & Grace.

By: Tbow

Tbow — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 23:07:45 +0000

Up until a persons eyes are opened by the Lord they are always going to be in sin. I don’t know if it is as much a person blaming a parent on having this sinful activity or them reaching a mature decision that it must stop because it doesn’t advance what God has planned for them to do. When we are young we try to follow the Alpha male (as a guy speaking here) in the house just to get the attention and have some interaction. Good or bad, right or wrong it is all the influence we actually get in large doses. When you reach an age that you can accept that actions cause pain and does not follow the teachings of the good book then you are living as a sinner as well. My father and bro are the kind that believe in something but have no idea what (im still confused on this idea). My mother took my bro and I to church every sunday until she understood we knew enough to make our own decisions. At first I didn’t go because it was something my dad did but a few years after graduation I was standing in a warzone and I wasn’t looking for my earthly father to help me but I was looking up to my heavenly Father for protection. My dad has some real cool ideas on the world don’t get me wrong he’s twice as smart as I am but HIS flaw on faith could have lead me down a different path. This is where things have changed. At this point in my life it scares me to death that his flaw could cost him his soul. God opened MY eyes to the choices that I have to make to stop the sin. I don’t blame him in the least for the sins I have done in the past, those are mine I deal with them my way. My job currently is to put the armor of God on my kids and show them that no matter how bad it gets to have a true relationship with the Almighty. To blame my dad for my sins limits anything and everything God has planned for me. If I choose to blame my dad for my sins I can just as easily choose to forgive my dad for his sins and change my ways. Hope I didn’t talk in too many circles.

By: shellie (baylormum)

shellie (baylormum) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 22:21:37 +0000

You never cease to amaze me! I love it when you go beyond the “fluff” of the world and get really serious about issues that are in all our lives.

I just celebrated 3 years clean last Sunday. Got my medallion today, so there is a lot on my mind. I get so reflective this time of year. Between my belly-button birthday (that I share with your lovely wife) and a clean date, there is so, so much to be thankful for in my life.

For so long I gave up ownership of everything in my life. It was everyone else. Not me!! I love what Sarah said about God’s grace. Wow! Just as He saved my life in college, He did it again some 3 years ago. I stand in amazement & wonder at what He gives me each & every day. The shelter, the people, the food, the car, the sun, the mountains, my life.

I blame no one for my step into the dark side. Not God. Not my parents. Not my genes. It all comes back to me and the bad choices I made for a period of time. I am not a dummy and neither are most of my friends in recovery. Just a bunch of mis-wired people trying to figure out how to live from one day to the next. (pretty much like the “normies”! )

I must have the willingness to listen to the advice of others. I must be honest with myself & accept that I am an addict (in recovery). I must give back to those newcomers that come in the doors of a 12-Step meeting every single day. And most importantly, I must reconnect with God. He gives me the strength. And the willingness. And the courage. And the patience, compassion, empathy, and love.

I must play an active part in my life. To not blame others for my misfortunes, but accept who I am, as a child of God. And not keep it to myself.

By: Pokinatcha

Pokinatcha — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 21:31:44 +0000

Yes, I believe generational sin happens quite naturally and that can be broken by God’s grace.
I think there’s a time when one has to take ownership of their own sins & you can no longer blame your upbringing or your parents for them.

I’ve seen it in my in-laws. I’ve never seen one family so messed up by drugs & alcohol. We’ve adopted 2 of my brother-in-law’s kids & their half-sister because of it. When he went to anger management classes one of the things he wrote was that it was his father’s fault and my husband’s. He refused to take ownership. His paternal grandparents were alcoholics. My father-in-law a heroin addict, most of his (my father-in-law) siblings (cousins) – full, half & step have struggled with alchoholic/drugs as their parents. It’s what they saw.

My Father-in-law told my husband that one of his lasting memories is coming home one day to find his father and a lady across the street laying naked and passed out on his father’s bed. His mother & father would later divorce & his dad & the lady across the street would later marry. His Dad’s playmates would later become his brother & sisters. There’s 14 in all.

So I’d have to say, yes.