2023_05_01 Insight Post- Kim Feld

²⁹ Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever. (Deuteronomy 5:29, NLT)

One of the hardest things for me as a parent has been giving my child freedom, knowing that he would likely make some mistakes along the way. I am older and have more experience with the world, and my heart longed for him to listen to what I had to say and heed my advice and warnings. However, if you’re a parent, you know that’s not always the case, and sometimes our children have to mess up to learn and grow. When those mistakes happen, especially ones we know will potentially have lasting consequences, it breaks our hearts.

In Deuteronomy 5, Moses repeats the Ten Commandments and God’s instructions to the people of Israel, reminding them of when these laws were initially given. If you read through the book of Numbers, you will see that the Israelites had been wandering in the desert for 40 years. During that time, most of the generation rescued from Egypt had died, so Moses is speaking to their sons and daughters, who make up a new generation that will enter the Promised Land. God’s desire for obedience and faithfulness from His people remains clear. Just like a good parent, God wants the people’s obedience to come from a place of trust and love, not grudgingly or out of duty.

Deuteronomy 5 warns that sin can often generationally impact families. Take a look at verses 8-10:

⁸ “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. ⁹ You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. ¹⁰ But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

If you take a look at your family tree, it’s possible that you can see how this has played out. In my family, alcoholism has had a generational impact. But God’s graciousness allows us to break the cycle. We can choose to surrender the things in our lives that have taken the control that rightfully belongs to Him. His mercy is evident in these verses; generational sin may last three or four generations but love and obedience impact thousands.

Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach