“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them [graven images], nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me” (Exodus 20:5 KJV). The sins of the parents are punished in the children, though it now becomes the children committing the sins. When we actively engage in the same sin as our parents, we become guilty of a collective sin. Then, it is appropriate to confess and repent of our collective sin. God gave permission for the children to be tempted and afflicted by the sin of their parents. Why to the third and fourth generation? Poetic prose? Sin is a hard thing triggering God’s anger, but “His anger endureth but a moment” (Psalm 30:5), moderating unto the third and fourth generation, demonstrating His mercy. Parents, leave no unconfessed, impenitent sin to plague your children, for they will be tempted to imitate you and likewise be punished.
Mercy of God
Show Me Your Glory
Moses had just interceded for Israel after they worshipped a false god in the form of a Golden Calf. Jehovah heard and answered Moses’ prayer. Yahweh then promised, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest” (Exodus 33:14 KJV). Moses had already secured God’s promised presence, but he made a further request, which God will delight to answer for all His children. “I beseech Thee, shew [pronounced shō] me Thy glory” (33:18). “And He said, I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And He said, Thou canst not see My face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with My hand while I pass by: And I will take away Mine hand, and thou shalt see My back parts: but My face shall not be seen” (33:19-23). “When we respond to the glory of God, supernatural things will happen that otherwise would not” (Robert Henderson).
We Need A Miracle 