Generational curses are neither an Old or New Testament concept. The scriptural texts that are used to advance the ideology of generational curses are taken completely out of context.

Please consider Exodus 20:1-6

1 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. ~ Exodus 20:1-6

This is one of the main texts used by those who advance the concept of generational curses. Yet it is the first of the Ten Commandments. In this first command, God reveals that he alone is God and that Israel (as well as us today) are to have no other gods beside him. It is within this context that God says he is a jealous God.

I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

In the Old Testament, God referred to himself as a jealous God within the context of idols. God alone is God, and there is no other God besides him. Those who serve idols provoke his anger. Even under the New Testament, God is a jealous God who will not tolerate his people serving other gods (idols).

When God says he visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation, he is not speaking in reference to the so-called, generational curses, preached by some televangelists.

Instead, God is revealing who he is. He punishes those who hate him, and he will continue to punish the descendants of those who hate him if they follow in the sins of their parents.

Please understand that God does not punish children for their parents sins. Ezekiel 18 makes this abundantly clear. Rather, God deals with the sins of those who hate him. If the children walk in the iniquity of their fathers, God will punish them, but if a person repents and turns to God, God will, as he says, in the first commandment show mercy.

God does not say, “I visit the iniquity of those who hate me, by punishing their descendants to the 3rd and 4th generation, while I bless those that love me to the 3rd and 4th generation.” The context is punishment to those individuals who hate God and mercy on those individuals who love him.

I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me; and keep my commandments.

In Ezekiel 18 God told the people: As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. ~ Ezekiel 18:3-4

Ezekiel 18 completely refutes the ideology of generational curses taught within some places today.

The teaching of generational curses is an out of context doctrine. You cannot “rebuke” God’s judgments and punishment. God’s punishment for iniquity can only be removed by a person humbly repenting.

Finally, the truth of what God said he would do by, visiting the iniquity, can be understood by Paul’s words in Romans 1.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. ~ Romans 1:18-25
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To read Part Two click the following link:

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/generational-curses-part-2/?frame-nonce=536e7fabff