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FATHER’S LEGACYConsidering the Influence Fathers Can Have for Generations
While the role of a mother is indispensable (Pro. 31:1), Proverbs focuses on the father’s responsibility to instruct his children (4:1). You may have noticed that in the last few decades a disturbing trend has been taking place on television sitcoms. Twenty or thirty years ago dad was the most dignified and respected member of the family. Ward Cleaver on Leave it to Beaver was loved, admired and respected by his wife and two sons. Also, consider the fathers of Little House on the Prairie, Father Knows Best and The Waltons. Today, dad is the biggest idiot in the family. SeeThe Simpsons and Married with Children for starters. I believe this is Satan’s attempt to undermine the crucial role that fathers play in God’s design for the family.
Here is a solemn truth to reckon with: The coming generations will reap what their fathers have sown. After God gave the Israelites the second commandment (Deut. 5:8-9a), He went on to give them a negative and a positive consequence to underscore the serious nature of the command: “for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me” (5:9b). God tells fathers that their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren will be punished for your sin. How? Many ways are possible, but one way is by passing along the father’s sin to the following generations. Do any of you struggle with the same sin(s) as your father?
Before you fall into the mire of misery, let me mention the positive consequence that also follows the second commandment: “but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Deut. 5:10). What an awesome contrast: three or four generations as opposed to a thousand generations (cf. Deut. 7:9). If this isn’t influence, than I don’t know what is. Think of it. If you love God and keep his commandments, a thousand generations may reap what you have sown. Talk about a lasting legacy!
This generational Jewish mindset is very different than our typical individualistic American mindset. We Americans tend to think—wrongly—that what we do doesn’t affect anybody except ourselves. When Solomon became king over Israel, he realized that it was a direct result of his father David’s faithfulness (1 Kgs. 3:6). Even after the death of Solomon, God continued to deal with succeeding kings based on his relationship with David (1 Kgs. 11:12-13; 34-36).
Several false applications could be derived from this teaching. First, because Deuteronomy 5:9 addresses “fathers” and not “mothers” let us not conclude that women or mothers have no lasting influence. It seems that Paul’s disciple Timothy became a Christian through the influence of his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5). Second, this teaching should not result in a defeatist or fatalistic attitude, which says, “I’m destined to be like this because my father or grandfather was like this.” Jesus Christ came to earth so that we could be set free from our father’s sin and become new creations (2 Cor. 5:17). By the grace of God we can renounce the sins of our fathers, and begin a new godly line. Third, if you or your children do not have a father, do not assume that you or they are doomed. There is great hope, for God says that He Himself will be “Father of the fatherless” (Ps. 68:5). You couldn’t ask for a better father.
Several years ago Christian Life and Faith magazine presented some interesting results as they contrasted the generations coming from two different families. The Jukes family began in 1677 when an immoral man married a very licentious woman. Nineteen hundred descendants came from that union. Of these, 771 were criminals, 250 were arrested for various offenses, 60 were thieves, and 39 were convicted for murder. Forty of the women were known to have a venereal disease. These people spent a combined total of 1300 years behind bars and cost the State of New York nearly 3 million dollars.
The other family was the Edwards family. The third generation included Jonathan Edwards who was the great New England pastor and theologian. Of the 1,344 descendants, many were college presidents and professors. One hundred eight-six became ministers of the gospel, and many others were active in their churches. Eighty-six were state senators, three were Congressmen, 30 judges, and one be-came Vice President of the United States. No reference was made of anyone spending time in jail.
God still says, “Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!” (Deut. 5:29).
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