Sins of the father

I've found that when something about God gets stuck in my craw, or rubs me the wrong way, or just seems incomprehensible, there's usually a purpose. I think it's God's way of getting my attention. Of getting me to focus and think about something. Take this:

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, 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; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:4-6

It hit me one day, that visiting the sins of the father on the children seems cruel. Why would God do this? It's not as if the children deserve it. It seems out of character for a loving God.

Then another thought struck me...it's purpose isn't to be cruel to one's children, but rather, to urge the father to restrain himself. As a man, and a father, nothing affects me like the thought of my children suffering. Not even the thought of my wife suffering bothers me as much (yes I do love her). There are many "secret sins" that I can do in private, rationalizing that what's done in private won't affect anybody else. Anything goes, just do no harm. Even if it harms ME in some subtle way, at least it doesn't hurt anyone else...right?

Wrong. This is wrong on its face, which I won't get into now. But God knows us, and our power to deceive ourselves and rationalize almost anything. He also knows how important my kids are to me, and the threat of them suffering because of MY sin is something I just can't rationalize. I can ignore it, but never can I rationalize it. And if I ignore it, who is the one being cruel?

So, rather than a cruel edict, this serves as a stern warning to fathers - a great big sign that reads "DO NOT GO THERE" and a photo of my children pasted underneath. Sobering.

God is alright.