Scripture to Read: Exodus 20:5
God continued to challenge the Israelites concerning idolatry, just as He challenges us. God said in Exodus 20:5, “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me.” God’s jealousy is based on His love for the Israelites and us. God is so incredibly passionate in His love for the Israelites, and all people, that He’ll never settle for being a mere part of someone’s life because He is our LIFE! Real life is impossible apart from God, and God does not want anyone to miss what He has created them to be. If anyone falls prey to worshipping false gods, they are robbed (remember that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy – John 10:10) of the abundant life God intended for them (remember this too—only through Christ is abundant life possible). The focus of God is on idolatry, so, as He spoke of His judgment, He told the Israelites that if they worshipped false gods, His judgment would come upon the entire nation. If future generations walked in this same sin of idolatry, then God’s judgment would also come upon them. We know this because God ended Exodus 20:5 by saying He would judge the iniquity of “those who hate” Him. God would not, and does not, pass judgment down to future generations if those future generations repent and turn from the wickedness of their fathers. Repentance is the key to healing.
Challenge & Application
· What did God teach you today about idolatry and His love for you?
· How does any generation stop the judgment of God from the sins of previous generations?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!