August 3, 2008 "Generational Sin"

(Genesis 29:1 - 14 NIV) Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. There he saw a well in the field, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large.

When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well's mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.

Jacob asked the shepherds, "My brothers, where are you from?" "We're from Haran," they replied.

He said to them, "Do you know Laban, Nahor's grandson?" "Yes, we know him," they answered.

Then Jacob asked them, "Is he well?" "Yes, he is," they said, "and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep."

"Look," he said, "the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture."

"We can't," they replied, "until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep."

While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and Laban's sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle's sheep.

Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. He had told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father.

As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things.

Then Laban said to him, "You are my own flesh and blood."



What Comes Around Goes Around

Last week, we were visiting the spot where Jacob had his dream about the stairway to heaven. This event took place on Jacob’s journey from the house of his mother and father to the house of his mother’s brother – his Uncle Laban. Jacob first meets some shepherds, followed by his cousin Rachel. She was a shepherdess, a rare thing in that day. We learn why later. Laban had just two daughters. Rachel was the younger. Leah was the older. They helped their Dad take care of the flock.

Rachel took Jacob home to meet her Father and the rest of the family. Laban fully welcomed his nephew. After a month, Laban offered to pay Jacob for all of his hard work. Jacob countered with an offer of his own. Instead of working for wages, he offered to work for Rachel. Laban agreed - if Jacob would work 7 years, then he could have her. The Bible says that Jacob loved Rachel so much that the 7 years seemed like just a few days to him.

After the 7 years was up, Jacob asked Laban for his daughter. Laban threw a big feast, and then brought his daughter to Jacob. They spent the night together. In the light of the morning, to Jacob’s utter and complete surprise, he discovered that he was not with Rachel but with Leah. He could not believe it! Jacob approached Laban, “What is this that you have done to me? Why have you deceived me?”

Deception – something that Jacob knew very well. But now, he is the victim. What comes around goes around. Sin has drastic consequences. It just doesn’t affect one person. It goes further – sometimes even to the next generation, and even the one after that. This seems to be the case with Isaac and Jacob.

So, I want to focus on generational sin today. There are some things that are done which have an effect for several generations. How do we break these cycles? First, we must recognize the fact that what we do will indeed impact our children. They are sponges, and they will learn so much from us – both good and bad. We must take responsibility for those lessons that we teach – either directly or indirectly. An apology might be in order. Some explanations might be in order. Some changes might be in order. Next, we need to take a hard look at ourselves. What behaviors are we continuing to do that bring the same bad results? Some of that behavior might be learned behavior – stuff we did not know that was wrong at the time but became deeply ingrained in us.

We need flashlights – we need to take a good hard look into the deep, dark areas of our hearts, and see what is going on. The only way to do this is with God’s help. Ask God to illuminate those areas that need changed or discarded.

What a difference this would have made if Jacob had taken this approach. Even with this terrible deception, he was slow to learn – not willing to yet take a deeper look at his own deceptions.

The power of sin is far reaching – even deep into families – sometimes last generations. There may even be some sins that the church commits – the effects of which last for generations. Let me mention a few: being more concerned about self-preservation instead of soul-preservation, serving the institution more than the people, creating dependence upon the clergy and other professionals for ministry instead of every member being in ministry, mistreatment of pastors, idolizing of pastors, playing favorites, overlooking the least, the last and the lost, to name a few.

We need a confession and repentance time, don’t we? Would you join me? Come to receive forgiveness and the communion of God!