A Kingdom Key Devotional by Bishop Thomas Wesley Weeks, Sr.
Breaking Generational Curses - Part 2
Isaac should have been a spoiled rich boy who was dearly loved by his father and nurtured by his mother. And he was. But there were events that were beyond his control which set other factors in motion. Those affected him greatly and had him wasting many years of his life trying to recover. We try to fix blame on others or even ourselves for events that are beyond our control. Assigning blame may ease the pain but it will not allow us to heal.
"Only forgiveness will heal our wounds. Forgive those who have wounded you and move on. Holding on to blame only hurts you. They are going about their business being happy and you are sad. Unforgiveness ties you to them and puts you under their control, while forgiveness ties them to you and puts them under your control."
Isaac's father, Abraham, had been called of God to settle in a new land and establish a godly nation. He was originally called “Abram”, which meant exalted father. From the time Abram knew himself, he knew he was to be a father, but his wife Sarah was barren. What made matters worse, God kept telling him he would make him father of a great nation. Under this kind of pressure, Sarah broke and offered Abram her handmaid, Hagar to be his mistress so she would give them the promised son.
The problem was that there was no one checking with God on this matter. When you are feeling the Divine in your life pushing you in a certain direction, do not yield some of the time, but rather all of the time. You must decide, in all your matters, that you will consult with Him so that you do not misstep along the way. Yes, its true. Life will offer you some enticing alternative that will bring nothing but trouble and curses.
Hagar was not only an enticing alternative but also a generational curse. Sarah and Abraham were half brother and sister. They did not have the same mother. Even though this may have been a common practice during their day, that did not make it right. Like today, it does not make it right when a man has children by a number of women even though that is a common practice and accepted.
One of the great dangers to a family is when a generational curse becomes accepted. Hagar was appealing to Abraham. She was a young, feisty woman. The opportunity to have her and the sought-after son at the same time was too much for Abraham to pass. Abraham failed God because God wanted Abraham to depend on Him to fulfill His promise. It can take a lot of time and some awful mistakes before we realize that the Lord doesn't need our help.
Ishmael was the name given to the son born to Hagar and Abram. Abram fell in love with Ishmael. That is the major problem when we help God. We love the work of our flesh. What is even more dangerous is our putting fleshly hands on a spiritual promise. We become very attached to that work and it becomes very difficult for us to accept God's Will when it does not include what we want.
Many of us are hearing a “voice,” but it is directing us away from our dream. We are resisting and ignoring the call because we want God to bless what we want and not what He wants for us.
When Abram did his thing, God didn't close the book, but still extended favor to him and enlarged his destiny by renaming Abram, “Abraham”, which means father of many nations. Since Ishmael made Abram a father by the name change, God informed Abraham that there is yet another son coming, the promised son. Now Abraham could have another son and still fulfill the promise of God.
Aren't you glad that God did not close the book on us, but rather, spoke a preceding word over our lives which gives us another opportunity to do His Will? Let us acknowledge our mistakes under His mercy and grace; then let us yield to His power to bring to pass the promises He has extended to us. While others are condemning you to oblivion for your mistake, expect a preceding word from God that will free you to proceed toward your destiny!
