A recent Christian organisation posted on Facebook, a request for your favourite Bible verse. John 3:16 was mentioned as well as Psalm 23, but my first thought was Philippians 4:6 &7 - 'Do not worry about anything but in your prayers ask God for what you need with a thankful heart. And God's peace which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus'. ( italics are mine). I just love that verse and can certainly testify to it especially while enduring a 40 hour category 5 cyclone earlier this year.
However, at the time of the Facebook post, I was reading Exodus 34 and made an interesting discovery. I have always thought it unfair that when God gave the 10 commandments, commandment number 2 said that God would punish children up to the third and fourth generation when the adults worshipped idols. I realise there are consequences in this situation, but surely the parents are responsible for how their children have been taught. Obviously this is a more complex theological question from God's point of view.
Exodus 34:6 ff says "The Lord, the Lord,a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgressions and sin, yet my no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of parents upon the children and the children's children to the third and fourth generation". There is it again - punishing the children, but notice there is a time limit - to the third and fourth generation, whereas God's love and faithfulness have no time limits - 'thousandth generation'.
I found that a very reassuring thought - God put a limit on punishment but there is absolutely no limit to his love and faithfulness.
Something to think about.
However, at the time of the Facebook post, I was reading Exodus 34 and made an interesting discovery. I have always thought it unfair that when God gave the 10 commandments, commandment number 2 said that God would punish children up to the third and fourth generation when the adults worshipped idols. I realise there are consequences in this situation, but surely the parents are responsible for how their children have been taught. Obviously this is a more complex theological question from God's point of view.
Exodus 34:6 ff says "The Lord, the Lord,a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgressions and sin, yet my no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of parents upon the children and the children's children to the third and fourth generation". There is it again - punishing the children, but notice there is a time limit - to the third and fourth generation, whereas God's love and faithfulness have no time limits - 'thousandth generation'.
I found that a very reassuring thought - God put a limit on punishment but there is absolutely no limit to his love and faithfulness.
Something to think about.
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