Bible Questions Answered AboutCrucial ?sFAQ1FAQ2ToolsINT Home Statement of Faith About Us The Gospel Ask a Question Crucial ?s FAQ Archive Top 20 ?s The GotQuestions.or Search What does the Bible say about breaking generational curses? Subscribe to our Question of the Week Submit generational curses Question: What does the Bible say about breaking generational curses? Answer: The Bible mentions “generational curses” in several places (Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9). God warns that He is “a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.” It sounds unfair for God to punish children for the sins of their fathers. However, there is more to it than that. The effects of sin are naturally passed down from one generation to the next. When a father has a sinful lifestyle, his children are likely to practice the same sinful lifestyle. Implied in the warning of Exodus 20:5 is the fact that the children will choose to repeat the sins of their fathers. A Jewish Targum specifies that this passage refers to “ungodly fathers” and “rebellious children.” So, it is not unjust for God to punish sin to the third or fourth generation – those generations are committing the same sins their ancestors did. There is a trend in the church today to try to blame every sin and problem on some sort of generational curse. This is not biblical. God’s warning to visit iniquity on future generations is part of the Old Testament Law. A generational curse was a consequence for a specific nation (Israel) for a specific sin (idolatry). The history books of the Old Testament (especially Judges) contain the record of this divine punishment meted out. The cure for a generational curse has always been repentance. When Israel turned from idols to serve the living God, the “curse” was broken and God saved them (Judges 3:9, 15; 1 Samuel 12:10-11). Yes, God promised to visit Israel’s sin upon the third and fourth generations, but in the very next verse He promised that He would show “love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:6). In other words, God’s grace lasts a thousand times longer than His wrath. For the Christian who is worried about a generational curse, the answer is salvation through Jesus Christ. A Christian is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). How can a child of God still be under God’s curse (Romans 8:1)? The cure for a “generational curse” is repentance of the sin in question, faith in Christ, and a life consecrated to the Lord (Romans 12:1-2). Recommended Resources: Curse Breaking: Freedom From the Bondage of Generational Sins by Bob Larson and Logos Bible Software. While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann. Related Topics: Can God break the cycle of generational sin? What does the Bible say about self-love, loving self? What is the origin of the peace sign? What does the Bible say about soul ties? What does the Bible say about depression? Return to: Topical Bible Questions Return to: GotQuestions.org Home What does the Bible say about breaking generational curses? Audio/MP3/Podcast Random Page Got App? Contact Us Serve with Us Survey Promote Us Support Us Follow us on ? of the Week Christian fasting - what does the Bible say? Verse of the Week I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 Preferred Bible Version: Got Books? Ads by save keep. More Info | Hide These Ads © Copyright 2002-2014 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved. gotquestions.org - Bible Questions Answered - Site Map Facebook 472 Twitter 10 Google+ Email More Options 501 FacebookTwitterGoogle+YouTubeTumblr Read more: gotquestions.org/generational-curses.html#ixzz2vTi2pekw
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 15:15:00 +0000
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