Generational Curse

1.God is bigger than our mistakes.

Those of you who are subscribers of my blog would have seen a blog with this same title, “Generational Curse” yesterday but can’t find it soon after. The reason is that the blog was still in a draft form when I accidentally pressed the ‘Publish ‘ button instead of the ‘Save Draft’ button. As such, the draft got posted. Although I immediately deleted it within 30 seconds, it was sent to all subscribers.

Even though I pressed the wrong button, my mistake was used by God  to assure a subscriber that she was not the victim of a generational curse. God timed it so well that as I accidentally published the draft blog, it reached the subscriber at the precise  time when she was confused about the issue of generational curse. That is how our God works. He is bigger than our mistakes and can use them to achieve His purposes. Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

 

2. Generational curse is Old Covenant thinking

Now that my draft has been used by God to speak to a subscriber, I shall write a more complete version of the topic. This issue of generational curse arose from an Old Covenant thinking mentioned in Exodus 34:7 which states, “he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” The thinking in the Old Covenant was that if the forefathers had messed up, the subsequent generations would suffer.

Because of such thinking, some Christians (who belong to the New Covenant) think that since their forefathers had sinned by say, dabbling in the occult, they therefore now bear the consequences of this earlier sin even though they have accepted Jesus (who had saved them from their sins). Based on such wrong thinking, they conclude that since they now live a defeated life, it can only be due to the sins of  their forefathers. Some also think that since their parents had divorced, they too will be inclined to divorce and therefore it is better not to get into a serious relationship. Some also think that if their parents had a history of cancer, then they too will have cancer. With the fear of cancer occupying their minds, they have no inner peace and joy in the Lord. Such Old Covenant thinking is misplaced thinking for us New Covenant Christians. We are not responsible for what our forefathers did or did not do.

 

3. New Covenant thinking believes all curses removed by Jesus’ death on the cross

In fact, in the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah already denounced such wrong thinking and spoke of the difference the New Covenant will make in the new believer’s life. In the verses from Jeremiah 31:29 -30, we read that in the New Covenant, each is responsible for his own sin – “In those days people will no longer say, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes–his own teeth will be set on edge.”  These verses show the New Covenant emphasises  individual responsibility regarding sin. Therefore , one does not suffer for the sins of the previous generation.

The Bible states that under the New Covenant, Jesus removed all our sins –  past, present and future (Hebrews 10:12) when we accepted Him as our Saviour. Furthermore, Galatians 3:13-14 reminds us that Jesus died on the cross to redeem us from any generational curse which was what they believed in during the Old Testament times:-

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” Therefore, we can rest assured that when we accepted Jesus as Saviour, He removed all generational curses from our lives and we can live a guilt free life in Christ.

Some people also said that generational curse comes upon people who curse their forefathers. I don’t think that is generational curse at all. If one curses one’s forefathers, it is no different from a sin which involves cursing one’s enemies. If one has done that, one merely agrees with God that one has sinned and reaffirms that God has forgiven that sin in Jesus‘ death on the cross. That sin has always been forgiven and there is no effect on subsequent generations.

 

4. You are free from generational curse

I pray that you will not be worried about what your ancestors had (physical diseases) or had done (sinful actions). Their health and actions are outside your control. When you accepted Jesus, He gives you new life, continues to forgive all your sins and cleanse you from any form of unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) – whether caused by your ancestors or by you. When Jesus, the Son Of God sets you free; you are truly free indeed (John 8:36).

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