"Visiting the sins of the Fathers....3rd, 4th generation"

[tribeofjudah]

The 2nd Commandment is clear.  What's unclear to me is the "sins unto the 3rd and 4th generation".  I can only think of it like this:  If you come from a God loving and fearing Family (father, mother, etc.).....you will likely follow suit and be God loving yourself and so on down the line unto your coming generation.

If your Father/family is wicked and evil, then you will likely be influenced and follow suit.

We also know that GOD himself can change the trajectory of your life and take you from a wicked family and make YOU the new beginning of a God loving family.

What are your thoughts?  It seems harsh to view God as a vengeful, punishing God --- even to future generations.

[Green Cochoa]

7 hours ago, tribeofjudah said:

The 2nd Commandment is clear.  What's unclear to me is the "sins unto the 3rd and 4th generation".  I can only think of it like this:  If you come from a God loving and fearing Family (father, mother, etc.).....you will likely follow suit and be God loving yourself and so on down the line unto your coming generation.

If your Father/family is wicked and evil, then you will likely be influenced and follow suit.

We also know that GOD himself can change the trajectory of your life and take you from a wicked family and make YOU the new beginning of a God loving family.

What are your thoughts?  It seems harsh to view God as a vengeful, punishing God --- even to future generations.

I never understood that passage either until I lived in a Buddhist country.  When I met many "Seventh-day Buddhists," then I understood.  The sins get passed down, generationally.  It is hard to truly convert a family before at least a generation or two have passed.  Cultures don't change overnight.

[joeb]

What is visiting the sins of the fathers?  It's pretty easy to trace out the results of abuse in families.  It goes from generation  to generation.  Alcohol and drug abuse does too.  That is the natural, sinful, progression.  The only thing that stops the chain is someone who gives their life to God and allows Him to heal them.  That's why the rest of the sentence in that commandment is so important--and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.  Separating the two parts of the sentence separates God from His love and mercy, and gives a very distorted picture of God. 

[hch]

On ‎4‎/‎17‎/‎2016 at 11:40 PM, tribeofjudah said:

The 2nd Commandment is clear.  What's unclear to me is the "sins unto the 3rd and 4th generation".  I can only think of it like this:  If you come from a God loving and fearing Family (father, mother, etc.).....you will likely follow suit and be God loving yourself and so on down the line unto your coming generation.

If your Father/family is wicked and evil, then you will likely be influenced and follow suit.

We also know that GOD himself can change the trajectory of your life and take you from a wicked family and make YOU the new beginning of a God loving family.

What are your thoughts?  It seems harsh to view God as a vengeful, punishing God --- even to future generations.

When the metal idol in Daniel 2 is compared to Jeremiah prophecy that Nebuchadnezzar would rule, his son, and then his grandson; it is interesting to notice that the grandson was in the third generation that lost the kingdom.

When the idol is compared to Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, Rome is the 4th generation that ended the global kingdoms in the prophecy.

And when my understanding of the kings from the earth (Daniel 7:17) is applied to that prophecy: Presidents Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, and with GW & Obama as though they are one like pagan and papal Rome were viewed as though they were one; it confirms to me that we have reached the end of the line: God is ready to visit "the iniquity of the fathers upon [H5921] the children unto [upon H5921] the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate Me."

Thanks for asking, it stirred up my grey matter.