Does this make you think or make you mad?

Evaluate your worldview based on this chart:

THE WORLD SAYS:	GOD SAYS:
Science is our best source for truth	God’s Word is Truth – Jn 17:17 Danger of satanic philosophies – Col 2:8
Being just a housewife is demeaning.	Guide the house – 1 Tim 5:14-15 Keeper/worker at home – Titus 2:5
All women need a career identity and their own income.	A helper suitable to him – Gen 2:18 How to please her husband – 1 Cor 7:34
Husband should help his wife reach her personal dreams.	Wife created for husband – 1 Cor 11:9 Wife helps husband – Gen 2:18
Women can function as equal to men.	Head of woman is man – 1 Cor 11:3 Husband is head of wife – Eph 5:23
Women must demand their rights.	Better to be last – Mark 9:35 Greatness from serving – Mk 10:43-44
Marriage fairness should be 50/50.	100/100 - Serve one another – Gal 5:13 Submit to one another – Eph 5:21
Divorce is better than an unhappy marriage.	Don’t part what God joined  – Mt 19:6
You can fall out of love	Others before self – Phil 2:3-4, 2 Cor 5:15. Love others – Rom 12:10, 1 Cor 13
Seek personal fulfillment to be happy.	Happy (blessed) = delight in God’s Word – Ps 1
Limit your family size. Don’t overpopulate our planet.	Children are God’s gift and reward;  Happiness from a full quiver – Ps 127:3-5
Children are an economic drain.	Children like olive plants at your table – Ps 128:3
Toddlers are exasperating.	Nurture & admonition of the Lord – Eph 6:4.  Teach them to obey – Eph 6:1
It takes a village to raise a child.	Daily godly training at home – Deut 6:6-7 Family identity most important
Motive: What’s in it for me?	Motive: glorify God in all – 1 Cor 10:31

Conclusion: Biblical living is counter-cultural

Romans 12:2

 

Do we pass on our iniquities?

                Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations” (Exodus 34:6-7 NASB).

                This verse has been used to teach so-called “generational sins.” The theory that sins of our ancestors can pass on to us much like eye color and IQ. The above verse has been used as support. If that is true, then this verse is somewhat of a curse. Could that be what God intended?

                Moses had asked God to let him see His glory. God answered that no one could see His face (presence) and live, but He would allow Moses to see His back—His after-effects or His glory-trail, so to speak. He said, “I myself will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion” (Exodus 33:19).

                So when God passed by Moses in Exodus 34:6, He proclaimed His character, an attribute list which is quoted six other times in the Old Testament: Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 103:8; Psalm 145:8; Joel 2:13; and Jonah 4:2. This is how God wants us to think of Him. He is not a punishing God, ready to pounce on those who disobey. Yes, sin has consequences, and God’s holiness demands justice, but that quality is tempered by His other attributes, referred to in all sections of the Hebrew Scriptures—the Law, History, Poetry, and Prophets.

                At the end of Exodus 34:7, the word generations is understood; it is not literally in the Hebrew text. Thus when God said that He maintains faithful love for thousands, we should understand that He means thousands of generations. Do you think that means a literal 1000 generations or is it a figure of speech for unlimited/perpetual? Of course it’s a figure of speech.

                Then God said that the consequences of sin visit to the third and fourth [generations]. Might that also be a figure of speech? Whereas His mercy is unlimited to all generations, sin’s effects are limited to only three or four generations. Four generations would equate to one lifetime.

                This means that even if our sins are known by our great grandchild (the fourth generation), the descendants after that won’t remember us or care. Our sin history dies with us. In addition, the sins of our ancestors we never knew need have no effect on us.

                We should see this verse as a caution not a curse, because the main point is a contrast. Although sin’s consequences may affect those who know us, God’s love and forgiveness extend to all our descendants. In this light, do you think God wants Exodus 34:7 to be a fearsome warning or a comforting promise?

                What did God show Moses? All His goodness and His name. That needs to be our focus as well. Be thankful that our sins are forgiven, and the consequences are limited, because our YHWH is compassionate and gracious, abounding in lovingkindness and truth—perpetually.