We are in chapter twenty of Exodus with our word for today. עָוֹן iniquity, guilt, misdeed, sin, punishment of iniquity. It is used 233 times in the Old Testament. The root word עוה is the idea of to twist or to be bent. So instead of following God’s word and his will we twist it or bend it. Sin always separates us from God the good news is that God has found a way to forgive our sins against him. A great example is the scape goat. Leviticus 16:21-22 He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the עֲוֺנֹת֙wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head…The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness. The scape goat is a good example of what Christ has done for all of us. So the consequence of our iniquity separating us from God is taken away. Now this is not the sense of how our word is used in our chapter today. We are talking about the effects that sin has on one generation to another. God is clear that everyone will be held accountable for their own sins. That is in our relationship with God. Each person will be saved by their own decision to accept God’s forgiveness or condemned for their rejection of it. God makes this clear in his word. Jeremiah 31:29-30 “In those days people will no longer say, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.
That is not how our word is used in our chapter today. Let’s look at it. Exodus 20:5-6 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the עֲוֺ֨ן iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. Our word is used in our chapter in the sense that my family has to deal with the effects of my sin. This is referred to as generational sin and in today’s language we would use the terms of addiction and family trauma. We see this idea developed in the New Testament. When instructing children God commands fathers. Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Did you notice the contrast between frustrating or embittering your children over against training and instruction of the Lord. It does matter how we teach and connect with our kids because the evil one can use it to put a wedge between them and God. God calls us loved kids who are easily drawn toward worshiping idols instead of God (1 John 5:21). Idol worship can be used by the devil to not only corrupt my life but cause effects on my family for generations. This is because those closest to us pick up and imitate both our good and bad habits. The good news is that no matter how much the evil one will use the sinful nature of our earthly father against us to steal, kill, and destroy our lives. God is our perfect father that sent his son so that we can have life and have it abundantly. We can break the generational sin through the Holy Spirit working in us. This is what Peter is referring to in not continuing to follow the empty way of life we received from our family but instead to let God redeem us through Christ. 1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. I’ll close with this great passage that reminds us that God can break any sin, addiction or pattern by his power when we confess them to him. Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the עֲוֺ֖ןguilt of my sin.
