Family Traditions

In our Sunday School class, we have been studying Genesis. I have to say that I am somewhat fascinated by the traditions and practices of the Israelites. There were so many rules to follow - how did they remember them all? Had I lived back then, I am sure I would have been in trouble quite frequently for forgetting the law - they would have probably sent me to live with the lepers or something.

I find the story of Jacob and Esau particularly interesting. You remember the story: Jacob and Esau were the sons of Isaac and Rebekah. Esau was a manly man who loved to hunt (and according to the Bible he was very hairy - eeeeew!). Esau was loved by his father Isaac, maybe because they had similar interests. Esau was the kind of son Issac could call on to help put food on the table, help fix things around the 'tent', or with any other manly task. Jacob, on the other hand, was loved by his mother, Rebekah. Jacob and Rebekah probably had a lot in common. Jacob was more of the sensitive type. He liked to cook (what mom wouldn't want some help in the kitchen?). Jacob was probably a great help with the other kids in the camp. He probably helped decorate the tent and keep it tidy. Needless to say, other than their parents, Jacob and Esau had very few similar interests.

Even though their interests were different, Jacob and Esau had one thing in common. Deceit. They were good at deceiving people. As a matter of fact, their grandfather Abraham, and their father Isaac were quite good a lying as well. If you will remember, Abraham lied to Pharaoh when he said that Sarah was his sister (well she was his half-sister, but it was a lie nonetheless). Isaac did the same with Rebekah, telling Abimelech that she was his sister. Like father, like son, huh? Then Jacob, deceived his brother Esau, causing Esau to give Jacob his birth right. See the pattern here?

Exodus 20:5 tells us that ".....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.." Considering the fact that Abraham's family had a problem telling the truth, it looks like this held true for his family and I am sure that it will hold true for mine as well.

This means that the sins that we allow to remain in our own lives can plague our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren....do you smell what I'm cookin' here? When great-great grandpa has a problem controlling his temper, it is a good likelihood that great-grandson will have anger management issues as well. When grandma is a constant complainer who is always dissatisfied, it could be that great-grandaughter will be whiny and hard to please as well. Those are just a couple of examples, we all have to fill in our own blanks. My grandmother/mother - grandfather/father had the negative behvior of ___________________ therefore I am more likely to be ______________________.

I am sure that all of us can look back at our family tree and see patterns of sin. Maybe it's lying, or negativity, maybe gambling, greed - whatever the tradition of sin is, we have to stop it in ourselves so that it isn't passed down to our children and their children.

Abraham was an idol worshipper who became a worshipper of God. Abraham is probably most remembered for obeying God when asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac on an altar. Thankfully, God spared Isaac and blessed Abraham for his faith. Isaac is probably most remembered for unintentionally giving away his fortune to the wrong child. Jacob is probably most remembered for cheating his brother out of his birth right. Regardless of their faith in God, these men will always be remembered, in part, for being deceitful. These were men of God yet their legacy is tainted by lies and deceit.

Our family history influences who we are and how we act/react. History always repeats itself until someone stops the cycle. We have to be that someone. We have be honest with ourselves in taking inventory of the negative patterns we have inherited and do whatever it takes to eliminate them in our own lives. We do not want to be responsible for causing our children and their children and their children to sin. No matter what we do for God, no matter how much we love Him, our unrepentant sins can taint our legacy of faith. And we defnitely do not want that to happen!


Check out Greg's blog - I think you will find it interesting!