Breaking Free from Generational Curses

I want to bring us to the place first of all where we can agree that each of us has a personal responsibility for the direction our lives take. 

It used to be a popular thing for people to look at a child growing up and following the wrong path, and say ‘well, his father was a rumbo’ (that’s the colloquial term for an alcoholic) or ‘her mother was a prostitute’ (I won’t use the more common term there) ‘so it’s no surprise that this is how he or she turned out’.

I said it used to be, because I hope people don’t still say that anymore.

But sadly, there are people who still display some tendencies, more commonly called - generational curses - and it makes me wonder whether Christians realize that we must not be associated with this way of life. 

As children of God, we must know that even though our mothers and fathers, grandparents or other foreparents had a certain negative trait, that we don’t have to pick it up, even though it was forced on us in our younger years or we just developed the habit by being around them.

With social media and being exposed to different teachings, we can agree that generational curses can be turned into generational blessings and that’s the only hand-me-down we should allow to shape our lives. 

In fact, we know that everyone is not all bad. Correct? So we can choose to look for the good in those of our generation and  highlight and emulate that. Agreed?

Truth be told, this is the first time that I’ve done a study on generational curses. I haven’t exactly used the phrase too many times, but I have told my children and one or two other people, that they are just like somebody in their family. 

Sometimes that was a compliment and sometimes not.

Generational curses though is not something I want to be associated with. As I understand it, the term refers to the idea that the consequences of sins committed by someone in your lineage can be passed down to you and future generations. 

So in a particular family, the great grandfather, the grandfather, the father, the son and his son, may all suffer from poverty, illness, addiction, or other hardships.

Now, there are scriptures in the Bible where we see the idea that the sins of parents can affect their descendants.

But scripture emphasizes our personal responsibility in shaping our own lives and helping others along the way, and very importantly the availability of God’s mercy on all of us.

Exodus 20:5-6 and Deuteronomy 5:9-10 both say the same thing: “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. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.”

And Exodus 34:6-7 “The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.””

All in all Family, we see: yes, generational consequences for sin, specifically idolatry and disobedience.

However, there is good news, there is hope, as we read about God’s forgiveness and compassion and God’s love and blessings for those who are faithful to Him.

So I’m getting that we don’t have to be held responsible for the sins of our ancestors. We are not collectively liable and so this thing about generational curses doesn’t have to be a label that we allow to be stuck to our foreheads.

We have to break these patterns. 

Each of us has an individual responsibility and will be held personally accountable for our own sins. 

Just like if our grandmothers and mothers or grandfathers and fathers were saved, we have to be saved ourselves. It doesn’t automatically pass down to us. We cannot inherit anyone’s salvation. We are judged based on our own righteousness.

Ezekiel 18:20 “The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.” 

And Jeremiah 31:29-30 ““The people will no longer quote this proverb: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste.’ All people will die for their own sins—those who eat the sour grapes will be the ones whose mouths will pucker.”

So just so we are clear, the Bible states that sin has consequences that may affect future generations. However, scriptures emphasize one’s ultimate and individual responsibility for their own actions.

We allow our own degradation. Negative behaviours and the consequences of such can in fact be passed down through generations, however this doesn’t have to be a supernatural curse that hangs over our heads.

God offers newness of life, the possibility of change, and the opportunity to break any generational curse and turn them into generational blessings.

Genesis 12:2-3 “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”” 

Deuteronomy 28:8 ““The Lord will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.”

Psalm 103:17 “But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children”. 

And Proverbs 20:7 “The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.”

aub - 21 October 2024

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