Exodus 34:7 says, “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the thi
rd and to the fourth generation.”
Iniquity: Root word—twisted, bent, depravity, and perversity. Iniquity is a practiced sin that twists its way into the heart and bloodline of a person. Iniquities don’t ju
st affect one person but pass from one generation to another in the family bloodline.
Isaiah 59:10 “We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night: we are in desolate places as dead men.” Why are they stumbling like the blind? Verse twelve says, “For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us: and as for our iniquities, we know them.”
Clearly, we see that transgressions and iniquities are not the same things. They are two different stages of sin. All iniquities are passed down the family bloodline to the third or fourth generation. How does sin become an iniquity? The best way to answer this question is with a scenario.
Jon was a habitual liar. We know that lying is a sin, and we have all been guilty of it at one time or another. Most people lie to cover up the truth. They don’t want the truth exposed for whatever reason. However, a person like Jon lies to build him or herself up. They want people to accept them by telling them things that are not true. After a while, they may even believe that the lies they are telling are truer than fabricated. Usually, you will see evidence of this behavior starting in this person’s childhood. Jon, like so many others I have met, will not admit they are lying even when confronted with evidence to the contrary. Why? They can’t because what we perceive as a simple sin is iniquity and a part of their nature or personality. That iniquity has been passed down the bloodline.
I couldn’t understand why Jon lied until I became acquainted with his mother, Lynn. Jon’s mother Lynn would lie about different things, and when confronted about the lie, she would deny that she lied or minimize the lie. I then realized that Jon lied because it was generational. How did lying become an iniquity? Let’s say Lynn’s father Bill lied about something as a child. Granted most children do lie, but Bill’s mother loves Bill, and Bill could do no wrong in her eyes. Instead of Bill’s mother disciplining Bill as a child, she defended him and justified his actions. Bill learned at an early age that lying works to his advantage.
Bill grows up and becomes a successful business owner and eventually marries Lou Ann. Bill is not honest in his business dealings. Eventually, the lying has spilled over into Bill’s personal life and marriage. Bill wants to be honest with his wife but finds it’s harder and harder, to be honest in their relationship. What was a sin in Bill’s life as a child, has now become a transgression or a stronghold. Bill’s marriage is in jeopardy, but he continues to tell lies. Bill’s wife is not like his mother. She does not minimize or justify his behavior. Bill wonders what’s the big deal, in his mind, he was protecting his wife from being hurt or being concerned. What’s the big deal right? It’s only a little white lie! That white lie, which is a stronghold (transgression), has turned into an iniquity that has twisted and bent itself into the bloodline. Bill’s daughter Lynn, and his grandson Jon have inherited this iniquity.
Remember iniquity is a practiced sin that twists its way into the heart and bloodline of a person. Iniquities don’t just affect one person but pass from one generation to another in the family bloodline. In each generation, the iniquity becomes stronger and more depraved than the generation before.
Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…” Jesus became the sin offering for humanity. If we repent for our iniquities and those of our ancestors, Christ has made the provision for us to be redeemed from those curses due to sin. In other words, God covered all the bases. If we confess and repent of ours sins or iniquities we are forgiven. The iniquity can be revoked over us, and our family bloodline.
Excerpt from the book “REDEEMED FROM THE CURSE” by R.A. Vukovich
