July 31, 2026

I recall only a few times in my childhood where I was really nervous about receiving a punishment from my parents. It was usually because of something my brother and I did. Normally it would be something we did or said in the car where my mom or dad overheard or witnessed some manner of shenanigans or arguing. Like any child, those moments leading up to your punishment can be excruciating. It’s interesting how one can experience two very different relationship aspects with one’s parents in such a short period of time!

We’re looking at the last portion of Exodus 34:5-7. This is a pivotal portion of Exodus where Moses has asked God to show himself to him. Moses has been talking with God for some time now. He’s had enough. He needs visible proof that God is going to be present with him and Israel as they journey with God. Moses wants to see the God with whom he has been dealing. God tells Moses that he cannot see his face and live. But he gives Moses a glimpse of himself. He passes in front of Moses and speaks his name to him.

⁵ Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. ⁶ And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, ⁷ maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

We talked a couple of weeks ago about the significance of vv.6-7 where God repeats that his name, Yahweh, is synonymous with love, forgiveness, and faithfulness. That is exactly the kind of God most of us want. However, the passage ends with the second part of v.7.

…Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.

That’s very foreboding. God punishes the guilty? Does he actually punish the children of those who are guilty? That sounds harsh. To be sure, in one sense, it is. But perhaps not like we think. God is holy and merciful. We see this quality in him throughout Scripture. But Yahweh is also a God who is just. Because of his holiness his desire to make us holy requires that he eradicates injustice and sin from the world. God’s holiness demands that sin is punished. Our sin has consequences. If we were being honest with ourselves, though sometimes we’d prefer our sin didn’t have consequences, we all have a sense that injustice in the world around us should be cured and justice should be served to punish evildoers and rescue those who suffer.

What does God mean that the children of those who sin will be punished? That doesn’t seem fair at all! I think we have to look at two sides of this. One, sin often runs in the family. We could think of many sin issues that are generational sin issues that plague entire families. On one hand, God is pointing out the inevitable: Our sin has consequences and not always only for the offender but often there is residual impact on others close to him or her. On the other hand, God is also pointing forward to a rescue plan. Notice that his “love and forgiveness” extends to “thousands” but his punishment of sin only for a few generations. What is being communicated here?

Look at Ezekiel 18.

⁴ For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.

¹⁴ “But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things…

He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. ¹⁸ But his father will die for his own sin…

God is communicating that Israel’s history is moving toward a culmination where sin will be eradicated once and for all. One day, consequences for sin will not be passed along to the next generation. One day, the consequence for sin (which is death) will no longer be felt by God’s people! Both Exodus 34 and Ezekiel 18 point toward the cross! God’s love, compassion, patience, faithfulness, and forgiveness will be fully expressed in Jesus (the Son who was sinless) as he takes our place (the sons who are sinners) on the cross. This is what the name Yahweh communicates. May your gratitude, worship, and obedience reflect God’s name.

Blessings to you in the name of Yahweh,

Nathan

Nathan Hinkle

Lead Pastor

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