(Exodus) Exodus 34:7-9
God's justice and mercy are on display in Exodus 34:7-9, reminding us that sin can have lasting consequences and that we should seek His pardon and mercy.
In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the concept of generational sin and its consequences. He shares his personal experience studying abnormal psychology and visiting a mental hospital where he learned about various forms of mental illness. The speaker highlights that breaking God's laws does not come without consequences, and that sin can affect not only the individual but also future generations. He emphasizes the importance of turning to God for forgiveness and mercy. The speaker also mentions a doctor's explanation that certain diseases and disabilities can be attributed to the sins of previous generations. Overall, the sermon emphasizes the need to acknowledge and repent of sin, as well as the importance of seeking God's forgiveness and mercy.
Full Transcript
And it says, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the children's children under the third and the fourth generation. And today, you need to remember that you can commit a sin that will affect your children and your grandchildren and your great-grandchildren and your great-great-grandchildren. I was taking abnormal psychology in college, and it was actually my second major, and I almost accepted a scholarship to go on to study it.
To me, it was quite fascinating. We went over in Tennessee to a place called Bolivar. That's where the mental hospital is.
And the man in charge was speaking to our class, showed us the different forms of abnormality. Here were the schizophrenia's. Here were those suffering from paresis.
Here were others that were suffering from some other mental disease, manic-depressive psychosis or some other form. And he showed us one group, and some member of the class asked him, what caused the disease? Well, he said it was either the sin, and that was the doctor's answer, the sin of the fathers or the sin of the grandfathers. And he said it could have been the sins of the great-grandfathers.
And a doctor in Nashville took me one time to the hospital one morning as he operated on some children, blind children, but it was to give them partial sight. And I asked him, I said, what made them blind? He said it was the sins of their fathers. Believe me, friends, you don't beat God.
You don't get around him. You don't fool him. You don't break his laws with immunity.
God always, always works the same, and he doesn't change. But thank God, you can always say in the first revelation here, he keeps mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity. We only turn to him.
Now, will you notice he says, verse 8, And Moses made haste, bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. And he did well too. This is a marvelous revelation of God.
And he said, Moses now speaking, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us, for it's a stiff-necked people. And here we go again. This is about the fourth time these people have been called a stiff-necked people.
And I hope by now you realize God never saved them because they were superior or because they were doing so well or promised to do so good. They are a stiff-necked people. And pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.
Wonderful prayer of Moses again, you see.
Sermon Outline
- I. God's Justice and Mercy
- A. God visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
- B. This can affect multiple generations
- II. The Consequences of Sin
- A. Sin can lead to physical and mental afflictions
- B. The sins of our ancestors can have lasting effects
- III. God's Unchanging Nature
- A. God always works the same and doesn't change
- B. He is merciful and forgiving
- IV. The Importance of Prayer
- A. Moses' prayer is a model for our own
- B. We should ask God to pardon our iniquity and sin
Key Quotes
“You don't beat God. You don't get around him. You don't fool him. You don't break his laws with immunity.” — J. Vernon McGee
“God always, always works the same, and he doesn't change.” — J. Vernon McGee
“If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us, for it's a stiff-necked people.” — J. Vernon McGee
Application Points
- We should be aware of the potential consequences of our sin and ask God to pardon our iniquity and sin.
- We should not try to avoid or manipulate God's justice, but rather seek His mercy and forgiveness.
- We should model our prayers after Moses', asking God to go among us despite our own shortcomings.