Watch Out for Generational Iniquities

Let’s talk about the difference between sin and iniquity. We’ll continue to use the example of Abraham. A sin is an act. An iniquity is a tendency toward that sin. Iniquities are weaknesses or bents toward a sin. God tells us that those weaknesses or iniquities are often passed on to our children, even to the second and third generation. If you jump over to Genesis 26 from Genesis 20, you’ll see that Abraham’s son, Isaac, did the same thing his dad did. He lied about his wife, Rebekah, being his sister. He even lied to the very same king—Abimelek. In verse 7, the Bible says that Isaac did this because he was afraid he would be killed. Sound familiar? 

The manipulative, conniving nature in Isaac was passed right on to Jacob and onto some of his sons. The Bible tells us that some of these sons never got free of this. The ones that did were ones God had to take into a tremendous encounter with Him. He took them into a season where they really had to deal with that stronghold until He could break it off of them. 

It is important for us to know that when we have weaknesses that become strongholds, most of the time, that stronghold will not be limited to you. It will affect others. It will come through the way you act toward others, and at times may pass right through your bloodline. It is very important that we deal with these things with the help of the Lord.

“When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, ‘She is my sister,’ because he was afraid to say, ‘She is my wife.’ He thought, ‘The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful.’” (Genesis 26:7; NIV)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

  • Read the stories in Genesis 20 and Genesis 26 and compare the sins of father, Abraham, and the son, Isaac. 
  • Ask the Lord if there is anything going on in your life that has been passed to you from a father or mother, and if that is an iniquitous pattern that could be, or has been, passed to a child.
  • Beginning with repentance, let the Holy Spirit guide you in routing the sin and iniquity from your life.
  • Forgive your parent(s) and/or grandparent(s) and intercede for your child(ren).
  • Say, “The Lord is faithful to deliver me from all of my fear, sin, and iniquity through the shed blood of Jesus.”

A prayer you can pray:

Father, thank You that You recorded these stories in Genesis 20 and 26 for us to see the sins of the father visited on the next generation. When I study it out, it is astonishing how Isaac’s sin is identical to Abraham’s. I must accept that there is a reason You put this story in there, beyond just showing Your people two examples of sin. There is a clear generational iniquity happening here. I will be still a minute, so You can show me if there is generational iniquity in my bloodline that the devil can take advantage of. Show me if that iniquity has passed to my child(ren). Jesus, forgive me for that sin in my life. I forgive my parent(s) (grandparent(s)) for opening a door to sin in our family line. I thank You that the blood of Jesus can save our family from that iniquitous pattern. I plead that precious blood over my children and ask You to save them, eternally, and from any generational strongholds. You are more than able to save, heal, and deliver! You are faithful to deliver me and my parent(s) and my children from all fear, sin, and iniquity through the shed blood of Jesus. We will rejoice in that and know that whom the Son sets free is free, indeed! Amen.

Today’s decree:

We will invite God to deal with our  iniquities, so our children and grandchildren will be free!