I used to think this passage was mean.
Why would God punish me for my great grandpa’s extreme wickedness?
(Remember ..Nellie and Leonard McCoy)
But I kept hanging on to Jesus anyway, for some reason.
And then one day I was thinking:
Wait.
The point is not the third and fourth generation.
The POINT is the thousands.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then suddenly I was free to think
of God’s huge-o goodness
and great-heartedness.
He overcomes evil with good.
Even if it’s very yucky wickedness, as in the case of Great-grandpa McCoy, who was the most evil person I have ever personally heard of in real life (not counting stories).
Even if the evil is very black indeed.
Even if it takes Him three or four generations to do it.
Good f-i-n-a-l-l-y overcomes evil with God
and it is finished.
No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. Don’t bow down to them and don’t serve them because I am God , your God, and I’m a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me. But I’m unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20:4-6 MSG
reboot my ❤ 
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