Levi's Genes

And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. (Hebrews 7:9, 10 KJV)

Scripture provides a powerful example of how the good deeds of forefathers affect future generations. Levi was given credit for paying tithes to Melchisedec when they were actually paid by his great grandfather Abraham 135 years earlier.  Levi's genes came from Abraham.

When God looks at you he sees you and your genes...your lineage. Most people are in a lineage of blessing or cursing. 

Deut. 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

Exodus 20:5-6 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; [6] And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

To make sure this message is not overlooked, God repeated it three more times.

Exodus 34:7  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

Numbers 14:18  The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

Deut. 5:9-10  Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, [10] And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

Most want to be in a lineage of blessing. The Smith’s were proud of their family tradition.  Their ancestors had come to America on the Mayflower.  Their line included Senators, Pastors, and Wall Street geniuses.  Now they decided to compile a family history, a legacy for their children.  They hired a fine author.  Only one problem arose: how to handle that great-uncle who was executed in the electric chair.  But the author said not to worry, he could handle that section of history tactfully. When the book appeared, the family turned to the section on Uncle George.  There, they read, “George Smith occupied a chair of applied electronics at an important government institution, was attached to his position by the strongest of ties, and his death came as a real shock.”

Proverbs 20:7  The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. This is what we want. 

The Second And Third Generations Have The Greatest Potential. We read about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-who became Israel.  Its been thousands of years and we still refer to the nation as Israel...the third generation. Jesus said the disciples would do greater works than His.  He was like the first generation.  There was Elijah and Elisah.  Elisha did double of Elijah.  Gehazi was next in line and had the greatest potential of all, but he blew it.

I can do more in the future than I can with my own life, simply by raising Godly children. The just man walketh in his integrity: his children (his grand children, his great grandchildren, his great great grandchildren) are blessed after him.

Grandpa and granddaughter were sitting talking when she asked, “Did God made you, grandpa?”  “Yes, God made me,” the grandfather answered. A few minutes later, the little girl asked him, “Did God made me too?”  “Yes, He did,” the older man answered. For a few minutes the little girl seemed to be studying her grandpa, as well as her own reflection in the mirror, while her grandfather wondered what was running through her mind.  At last she spoke up.  “You know, Grandpa,” she said, “God is doing a lot better job lately.”

Each generation should get a little better.  Each generation should surpass the previous generation in their Christian life.  Get a picture bigger than yourself.  Romans 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

If you are in a lineage of blessing. Thank God and keep it going. 

If you are in a lineage of cursing, break the chain and start the way of blessing. The situation is not hopeless.  Anybody can stop it.  There is an illustration in the Bible of this happening.  It is found in 2 Chronicles 15.  It is about King Asa. Asa’s father Abijah, was not a Godly man.  Neither was his grandfather.  But Asa was.  He broke the generational curse and started a line of blessing.  He was the first of five of the greatest kings Israel ever had. Abijah’s mother was named Maacah and her name meant “oppression”.  She was the daughter of Absalom and the wife of Reheboam.  Remember that Absalom was the one who tried to take his father, David’s kingdom.  Absalom had bitterness toward his father and created an increasing run away train of rebellion that effected other areas as well. Asa saw the curse.  He saw the bitterness and idolatry.  He made a covenant with God and then took action.  He removed his grandmother from being Queen.  He went to the groves and cut down the idol, then smashed it, then burned it.  He annihilated idol worship.

Isaiah 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

Either way, if you are in a lineage of blessing or cursing, YOU do righteousness so that the people who will come from your genes will get credit for what you do.