Consequences

Actions have consequences. This law of the natural world is evident. If I hit my thumb with a hammer I will certainly reap the painful consequence of this action. We understand this rule, but sometimes we forget just how far reaching the consequences of our actions can be. God set forth the principle of sin and consequences very early in the Old Testament. "For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments," (Exodus 20:5,6 NKJV). This verse, as well as others in the Bible, teaches the dire, far-reaching consequences of sin. According to this verse, our sinfulness can effect even our great grandchildren! How is this possible? Aren't children innocent?

Indeed children are born innocent. Some use the verse quoted above to say that the children inherit the guilt of their father's sin, even back to Adam. This teaching is contradictory to plain Bible truth. "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son," (Ezekiel 18:20). The Bible cannot contradict itself because it is truth (John 17:17). Therefore the passage in Exodus cannot teach that children bear the guilt of their parent's sin. Some other passages which teach the innocent nature of children are, Deut. 1:39; Gen. 2:17; Eccl. 7:29; 12:7; Ezek. 28:15.

The verses above teach us that guilt is not inherited. But that still leaves us with the question of what Exodus 20:5,6 does mean. The best way to learn Bible truth is to let the Bible speak for itself. God gives us an example of what He meant in Numbers 14:33 "And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness." These words were spoken to the children of Israel after they refused to enter the land of Canaan. Though their children were not guilty of sin, yet they had to suffer the consequences of forty years of wandering in the wilderness (notice Numbers 14:18).

So what does this mean to us today? We can learn from this that our actions will effect our sons and daughters for years to come. If a man is raised in a home with an abusive, alcoholic father, the chances are high that he will grow up to raise his family in the same way. And his children will have to suffer just as he did growing up. The cycle may continue for several generations before someone finally breaks the cycle. This is just one example of how God visits the iniquity to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Him. It is also important to notice that God has mercy on those who keep His commandments. Let us all think of our actions and how they can effect our children and adjust our lives accordingly.