Do you blame your dad for some of the sins you struggle with? Do you think that God “goes easy” on the children who have adopted the sins of their father?

Each of us has a choice. Will we blame our sins on our father or humbly learn from his errors? We would be well advised to learn from our father’s failings, repent of them, and make right choices.

God in His mercy and grace gave Nebuchadnezzar 12 months to repent after warning him in his dream. His son Belshazzar, however, followed in his dad’s proud footsteps and reaped the consequences of his life on the very night God warned him. God did not give the son even 24 hours to repent. He did not get a “pass” because of the sins of his father.

I believe Scripture teaches that we are wise to learn from, repent of, and flee from our father’s sins. A son had better learn from his father’s mistakes and not make excuses for embracing them. God did not excuse Belshazzar because of his father’s sin of pride. He chastened him because he should have repented.

“And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this” (Daniel 5:22).

Steve