The Power Of Invisible Influences

So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels. Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods. Genesis 31:17,19

Jacob and his wives are about to leave for Canaan. Laban, his conniving father-in-law, is absent from the camp, away in distant fields. With no one watching, Rachel steals her father’s idols. Whoever possesses the family’s gods is considered the leader of the family.  This person also possesses the rights to the father’s inheritance. If Rachel were the oldest, that would be one thing. But Rachel had brothers! With Laban away and out of sight, Rachel really stole her brothers’ inheritance.

Isn’t it ironic that she is committing the same sin her husband committed. Jacob tricked his father into giving him Esau’s blessing and inheritance. Had Jacob told Rachel the story? I don’t know. But ‘like often produces like’ even in the invisible world. In families, grievous sins are passed down and re-committed even though the next generation often has no idea what their ancestors did. The predisposition is ‘in the blood.’

Just as new blood flow is needed to repair physical wounds, new blood flow is also needed to repair spiritual wounds. There is no human blood source that has the power to wash a bloodline clean.  Only one person’s blood can do that.  It’s Jesus’ blood and He freely offers it. He longs for us to apply the cleansing power of His sacrifice to our ancestral line. There need not be insidious generational influences looming over our families any longer. I need not stand by and watch the consequences of my family’s sin hurt my children and grandchildren. I can stop the unholy legacy from continuing by applying the blood of Christ to each generational pattern that holds my family captive. By doing this, Christ cancels out the effects that were caused by their sin.  What a gracious Savior!

Father, someone is coming to You in the name of Your Son, Jesus. They long to be free from the negative and invisible influences of family. Guide them, Holy Spirit, in spiritual housecleaning.  Teach them how to live as Your children rather than the obedient children of fallen flesh and blood. Amen