What Generation Curse?
What do we mean by generational curse? It’s a popular belief that curses can be passed down from one generation to the other. They also believe that people or Christians can suffer a problem not because of what they have done wrong but because of what their forefathers have done wrong. They teach that some of the problems some Christians are going through today are as a result of generational curses and the way to be free from these curses is by going for a special deliverance service; that even though they are now new creatures through Christ, it does not stop the effect of these curses. That the source of curse must be identified and its power must be broken by some methods: fasting and prayers, deliverance meetings where the spirits are cast out from such Christians. Someone commented on this issue like this:
‘…they uniformly claim that putting one’s faith in Christ alone does not break these curses. Something more is necessary. It is this ‘something more’ that refutes everything that the Bible says about the matter and makes these teachings insidious. To get the curse of these demonic strongholds out of their lives, Christians supposedly need to find out what they are, use utterances (called prayers in the book) to break them and need a counselor with special knowledge of these things if they are severe cases. The words that are to be repeated are provided, including, ‘I cancel out all demonic working that may have been passed on me from my ancestors…I cancel every curse that satan and his workers have put on me…I reject all other blood sacrifice whereby satan may claim ownership of me’.
What is their Scriptural Basis for This Doctrine?
“You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” Exodus 20:5-6 (NKJV)
The same thing is repeated in Deuteronomy 5:9-10.
They also traced the anger of Moses to his forefather – Levi (Genesis 34:25-29, 49:5-7). Another basis for this idea is the issue of Abraham’s delay in having children and the fact that Isaac his son experienced the same delay (Genesis 25:20-21). The question is; why did Abraham have a delay? Is it as a result of curses or what? Please read your Bible very well! All these are just man’s ideas not God; you don’t have to infer what the Bible is not saying. I don’t believe if what happened to Moses, Abraham and Isaac are as a result of curses God would not have laid it bare in His word, but these are false propaganda.
Examining Exodus 20:5-6
Let’s examine this Scripture critically;
“You may not go down on your faces before them or give them worship: for I, the Lord your God, am a God who will not give his honour to another; and I will send punishment on the children for the wrongdoing of their fathers, to the third and fourth generation of my haters;” (Bible Basic English)
Let us note the people God says He is going to punish – those who hate Him. Which means the visit of His punishment is for those who break His law. But His mercy is to those who love Him. Even right from the Scripture God made a distinction of those that will receive this punishment and those that will receive His blessing. For Christians, who do not hate God, even if their forefathers did, there is no way God will allow these persons (Christians) to be punished because of the sins of their forefathers.
Let us even assume that this Scripture is saying what this teaching holds on to as validating generational curses. I will like us to examine other Scriptures.
“The people shall no longer quote this proverb-‘Children pay for their fathers’ sins.’ For everyone shall die for his own sins-the person eating sour grapes is the one whose teeth are set on edge.” Jeremiah 31:29-30 (The Living Bible)
I want to believe this error has been since the Old Testament era. The people so believed in it that it became a proverb in the land. You will recall even in the time of Jesus Christ the disciples even made reference to it in the case of the man that was born blind (John 9:1-3). God in His mercy was now sending Prophet Jeremiah to tell the people that this proverb will no longer hold water; that children will no longer pay for the sins of their fathers and that everyone will die for their own sin. This word was really repeated and it became an order from God in the days of Ezekiel (Read Ezekiel 18).
Then the Lord’s message came to me again. “Why do people use this proverb about the land of Israel: The children are punished for their fathers’ sins? As I live,” says the Lord God, “you will not use this proverb any more in Israel, for all souls are mine to judge-fathers and sons alike-and my rule is this: It is for a man’s own sins that he will die. Ezekiel 18:1-4 (The Living Bible)
You don’t have to believe what these people say about generational curses. The issue has been dealt with even before Christ came. The power is no longer active. Whatever power it will exercise over you is the one you give it. This is what the devil does; he works on people’s ignorance. That is why we must be aware of his devices lest he take advantage of us.
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