The Second Commandment--part 2

The second commandment--part 2.

"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments." Exodus 20:4-6 (NIV)

God is jealous. There is one right kind of jealousy.

When can you be jealous and not be in sin?

When the person belongs to you and is unfaithful to you. This is God's kind of jealousy. People who belong to him but have given homage to false gods receive his judgment.

There are two wrong kinds of jealousy. The first is when the person belongs to you and you imagine unfaithfulness. The second is when the person does not belong to you.

The right kind of jealousy, God's, does not allow unfaithfulness, expressed here as disobeying and hating him. This disobedience and hatred will have consequences for three and four generations. Sin flows downhill through generations. Today these are termed dysfunctional families.

This is followed by a promise to those who are faithful to him, described as those who love him and keep his commandments. The consequences of this are also generational. How many generations? Three? Four? No, a thousand generations. They have the love of God shown to them.

Would you like to see your generations turn around from three or four dysfunctional families to a thousand generations in the love of God?

(Taken from Good News/Bad News)

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