Why visit iniquity? ∙∙∙

Why visit iniquity? ∙∙∙

I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected – even children in the third and fourth generations. – Exodus 34:7

Exodus 20:4-6

4 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.
5 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. Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon their children, the entire family is affected – even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.
6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

DNA and Our Spiritual Blueprint

DNA—short for deoxyribonucleic acid—is often referred to as “the blueprint for life.” It contains the intricate instructions that enable life as we know it. Acting as a central repository of vital information, DNA carries the biological instructions that drive our growth, survival, and reproduction. It is also responsible for passing hereditary traits from parents to their offspring.

The groundbreaking discovery of DNA’s double-helix structure by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953 unveiled more about its inner workings. Think of it like a twisted ladder, with its spiraling design holding the key to life’s complexity.

Interestingly, while DNA shapes our physical traits—like eye color, height, or even tendencies toward certain health conditions—it’s also a powerful metaphor for something more profound. Just as there is a “biological DNA” encoded within us, we all possess a kind of “spiritual DNA.” This spiritual essence acts as the blueprint for who we are at the core, shaping not only our identity but also the purpose and calling for our lives.

The Flaws in Our Spiritual DNA

Tragically, our spiritual DNA is flawed. Why? Because we inherit it from parents who, like all of us, are affected by sin. Just as we might inherit our parents’ eye color, we also inherit their spiritual struggles—an inclination toward sin and brokenness.

This isn’t just personal speculation; it’s embedded in human history. We see this reality in how patterns of behavior, especially sin, get passed from one generation to the next. Children often mirror the flaws of their parents, repeating their mistakes, whether knowingly or unconsciously.

Scripture speaks to this inherited nature of sin. Numbers 14:18 paints a vivid picture of the weight of our spiritual inheritance: “The LORD is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He visits the sins of the fathers upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.”

This passage doesn’t suggest that God punishes children because of their parents’ actions—it instead highlights the ripple effect of sin across generations. The intent behind this stern, unambiguous language is to underscore the Father’s authority to judge as He sees fit. It appears unnecessary to attempt to soften or diminish the severity of this language (Timothy R. Ashley). The fate of each person is determined by their own actions. We stand or fall based on what we have done.

Yet, we are not trapped by our inherited weakness. Deuteronomy 24:16 clarifies this balance of accountability: “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.” This reminds us that while sin can influence us, each of us stands responsible for our own actions.

The Question of Relationship

What does all this mean for how we view God? Stanley poignantly asks, “When God speaks, do we hear a forgiving or demanding Father, intimate or distant Friend, patient or intolerant Teacher, gentle or angry Guide, understanding or insensitive Counselor, generous or reluctant Provider, or a faithful or inconsistent Sustainer?”

The way we answer this question speaks volumes about our relationship with Him. It determines whether we see ourselves as prisoners of inherited sin or as redeemed individuals shaped by God’s grace and purpose.

REFLECT & PRAY

Psalms 85:10 Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed!

Within the Father, what may seem like contradictions coexist beautifully. Opposites, such as mercy and justice, punishment and forgiveness, exist in perfect harmony.

Father, thank You for Your endless love, mercy, and kindness. You have displayed Your might and used Your power to extend forgiveness for every kind of sin and rebellion. Thank You for the amazing opportunities You’ve made possible. Help me fully take advantage of all that You have so graciously provided.

INSIGHT

Exodus 34:7 says, “I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.”

The Hebrew verb translated as visiting is paqad, a word that appears over 300 times in the Old Testament. Translating paqad has proven challenging. It can mean “taking note of,” “inflicting punishment,” or “imposing a penalty.” The phrase “the iniquity of the fathers” refers to “the evil activity of the fathers.” This can also mean “attending to the evil” or “searching out the evil.”

There’s a great deal of misunderstanding surrounding this passage. The phrase “visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children” is a direct translation from Hebrew. Many misunderstand this passage, believing it implies that God punishes innocent people for their ancestors’ sins. However, this is not the case.

Instead, this warning indicates that God will hold successive generations accountable when they repeat the sins learned from previous generations. The fact that these sins were modeled for them does not absolve a new generation from responsibility. Essentially, God does not excuse anyone for breaking His covenant simply because they are mirroring sinful behaviors they’ve witnessed (Douglas K. Stuart).

If people continue committing the same sins as their forefathers, God will continue addressing their defiance from generation to generation, holding each generation responsible for their actions. However, most importantly, this is not where His heart lies. The Father desires to display hesed, or loyal love, to “a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

Israel was bound by the mutually agreed upon terms of the law of Moses. Blessings would follow obedience, while non-compliance would trigger its penalties. The Father spelled out in no uncertain terms that His real desire is “to have his people remain loyal forever so that he might, in turn, show them the rich blessings of his resulting loyalty to them” (Douglas K. Stuart).

This sentiment is reflected in the sorrowful words of Jesus as He approached Jerusalem before His crucifixion.

Luke 13:34-35 says, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!’”

The nation of Israel had been given an extraordinary privilege. They were the only nation on Earth with a formal covenantal relationship with God. Yet, despite agreeing to the covenant, they often failed to reap its blessings because of disobedience.

This brings to mind the saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” No matter how incredible an opportunity may be, individuals must choose to accept it for themselves.

Every generation faces similar challenges and decisions. Today, we live in times marked by significant change. Peter R. Jones described it this way, “The most radical American Revolution took place not in 1776 but in the last generation of the twentieth century. In those last thirty or so years, we witnessed the First Great Awakening—of Paganism. It deconstructed western Christendom and produced a radical transformation of once- ‘Christian’ America.”

Are we visiting iniquity?

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© Dr. H 2025