... I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Prayer: Lord God, our heavenly Father, You pour out Your love and goodness on us. Thank You for all Your gifts. Thank You for the commandments, and for all the gifts they give and protect. We confess we have not kept these commands in the ways You want us to. We have brought grief to ourselves and to others. Please forgive us. By Your grace lift us up, and give us willing spirits now. Help us by Your Holy Spirit to listen carefully to Your Word, and so gain hearts of wisdom. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
When I plant a pumpkin seed, should I get cross when I don't see an apple tree come up? We know the saying, 'as you sow, you reap.' It's a general rule. Sometimes you don't get good growing conditions, so what comes up isn't quite what you expected. That can be disappointing. Today let's think about sowing and reaping in another way: sowing good or bad words, attitudes and actions. Sowing, or doing good, will usually bring about more good, whereas sowing or doing what is wrong, will bring a harvest of grief and evil.
What we do has consequences. For good, or ill. The more influence we have, the greater our responsibility. We may well have more influence than we realise. As I have mentioned before, the very simple thing of our presence or absence at worship has an effect. Without saying anything, we can encourage others, or discourage them, through what we do, or what we don't do. We may think, 'It doesn't matter what I do - I'm prepared to pay the price myself,' but often others have to pay the price for our sins.
For example, some want to enjoy smoking. That's a free choice. But non-smokers may get lung cancer, through breathing in the results of that choice. Some indulge in drunkenness, then cause car accidents that injure or even kill others who haven't had anything to drink. Others get into gambling, but their choice may reduce their families to poverty and end up destroying the home. Again, some may even attend church, but poison the minds of their children and friends against God and His church by their negative, critical attitudes and the way they speak about the church, the pastor or other members.
My actions have consequences, not just for myself but also for others. We've talked about bad consequences. There are also good consequences: As a general rule, if I take care of myself, I won't run myself into an early grave, and thus rob my family of a husband and father. If I manage my finances wisely, I may have ample to provide for the needs of others, as well as for my own needs. If I relate to my family in a cheerful, thankful, and considerate way, our family life will be more pleasant and enjoyable. Some things need the cooperation of others. But it is remarkable what a difference just one positive, faith-filled person can make in a home, a work environment, or a church community. (Positive influence is a blessing from God, and happens in this fallen, sinful world by His sheer grace and generosity.)
God tells us in our text, that there are consequences for hating Him, but He promises to bless those who love Him and obey his commands. But the consequences do not only come to us. If we hate God, it is so serious, that the damage this brings extends down the generations. Our text is very strong -perhaps too strong for our ears. He says He will 'visit the iniquity of the fathers on the children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.' How can He do that? Surely that's wrong, surely that's terribly unfair!
Let's hear what God says in Ezekiel 18:1-4
The word of the LORD came to me: What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, "The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge"? As I live, says the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.
God tells us through His Word, that the iniquity of fathers will be visited on children to the fourth generation. But people won't be punished for the sins of other people. In deep and passionate love, our God is warning us that our children will suffer the consequences of our sins, and the damage will continue to the fourth generation. This is not because God is harsh, but because sin is so damaging.
Let us hear from this text how serious it is, to break God's commands!
Let us also allow this text to blow away the lie of our age, that says 'you can do what you like, and it won't affect other people.'
God calls us to turn to Him in repentance, so that sin's damage may be arrested. We need to humble ourselves before God, and confess our sins to Him, not only for our own good, but also for the good of our families, our church, and our community. It is not what we think is right and wrong that matters: God's view is what counts. Things we may call 'little,' may in fact be seeds of great wickedness in God's sight. A splinter is a little thing. But you know the pain it can cause, and how infection can set in, if it's not removed and the wound cleansed.
In this series of sermons, we have taken time to listen to God's commands. The world has a different list of commands. In the place of God's authority, the world puts us, and our own opinions. The world rejects the wisdom of God, and removes the barriers of protection He has given us in His 10 commands. All kinds of alternatives for God are promoted and endorsed. His Name is profaned, the Sabbath is violated, authorities are dishonoured, and life is abuse. Marriage is cheapened, Property is taken, names are slandered and reputations are ruined. Truth is buried, and greed is fed and flourishes. The world sows rebellion and self-interest.
So God sends the consequences.
Should He be blamed?
Should I blame the maker of my lawnmower, if I try to use it to crush rocks, and it blows up in my face and injuring me and my children?
The sinful, godless world refuses to heed God's Word. Instead, it pushes other value systems and principles onto us. We need God's Word to renew our minds. In this series we have had the opportunity to let God's Word once again inform and teach our consciences.
(I invite you to revisit the whole series.)
We cannot avoid the consequences of sin and disobedience by rejecting, or reinterpreting the Words of God to suit the fashions of our culture and society. Our only escape is in the grace of God.
"I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God." God loves us with a jealous love. It is like the love of a husband for the wife he loves and cherishes, the one to whom he has vowed to have and to hold for life. "I am the LORD your God," He says.
He deserves our utmost praise, worship and obedience. But this we cannot give Him. Apart from His grace, our hearts are dry, empty, and unwilling. When we hear the words of this text, we yearn to be among the blessed generations, the thousands of those who love God and do what He commands. But we fear we are caught in the legacy of the sins of our fathers. We entangle ourselves in our own failures, and are deeply sobered, even shocked to hear that our sins are sowing evil consequences for our children, and others after them. Except for the great grace of God.
Is there hope? Is there mercy? Yes. Even in His warning, God shows love and compassion: He stops the damage at the fourth generation. Evil could have run unchecked, but God has set a limit for the natural consequences of evil.
Through the sacrifices he commanded in the Old Testament, God went further than simply setting a limit. He provided a way for evil to be dealt with, and eliminated. He provided a way for the cycle of sin to be broken. For us, the Sacrifice that destroys evil, is the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Apart from Christ, we are left to our own resources, which means, in short, we are lost. But we who are baptised and believe, are not apart from Christ!
In Christ God does a new thing. Instead of letting us reap what we sow, He lets Christ reap the punishment we deserved. Christ sowed perfect, loving obedience, and lets us reap the reward of God's steadfast love forever!
Hear the Word of the LORD: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1
(and:) "If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36
As we close in prayer, I invite you join with me in opening up your whole lives to God for His mercy and blessing:
Lord, in Jesus' name we come to You. You are with us today, and have blessed us through Your Word.Take away every form of deception in our hearts and minds that has come from the sinful world, the devil and his brood, or our own sinful hearts. We renounce every sin and every evil way that has been a part of our lives and the lives of our families. We bow in worship to You alone this day, our God and Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, and claim the freedom You promise to all who put their faith in You. You have put all sin and evil to death in the death of Christ: our sin, the sins of our fathers, and the sins of any others that have harmed us in any way. We ask You to forgive us and them, completely. Bring healing and restoration to our hearts and to all in our families, congregation and community.
We thank You that we are no longer under condemnation because of our sins. Renew our minds by Your Holy Spirit. Let Your Word dwell in us richly. Lead us by Your Holy Spirit to live as in Your presence. Fill us with love, joy and thanksgiving as we to strive daily to lead lives that are holy and pleasing to You. Thankyou for the peace and freedom we now have, through Your Word, and the promise of Your acceptance and constant love You gave us when we were baptised. We thank and praise You for Your great mercy and love! In Jesus' Name, Amen.
First command (God) | Second command (God's Name) | Third command-a (Sabbath, part 1) | Third command-b (Sabbath, part 2) | Fourth command (authority) | Fifth command (Life) | Sixth command (sexuality) | Seventh command (property) | Ninth command (wanting things)| Tenth command (wanting people)| command against idolatry| 'What does God say of all these commands?'