in order that it may go well with you and your children after you forever

The first part of this verse reads “Observe and obey all these words which I command you, in order that ... (Deuteronomy 12:28). There are two promises here, “that it may go well with you,” and “that it will go well with your children forever.” In particular when we are careful to obey all the Words the Lord, there is provision and protection for ourselves, and for our children forever (Deuteronomy 5:9,10). So firstly for myself, well just as a child suffers the consequences of not heeding a parent's warning not to touch a hot stove, so we suffer the consequences of not walking in the Wisdom of the ancient Scriptures. Galatians 6:7 puts it this way we reap what we sow,  bad choices have have bad consequences. You see God is not some Scrooge in the sky leaning down from the balcony of heaven,  and when He sees us having fun, He yells down “Cut that out!” But the Scripture does talk about “the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25).

Scripture then does not deny the pleasure of sin. Yes there is pleasure, but it is only for a season. Many of us had to learn that the hard way. Some never seem to learn! “Are we there yet mummy?” The law of sowing and reaping is not like the law of gravity. If you step off the roof, you suffer the consequences immediately. Sowing and reaping is like planting seeds, in that it takes a while for the plant to even sprout. There is also the law of diminishing returns. For example if we try for the same high as the first time, we have to take more. And then eventually we have to have our fix just to feel normal. But thinking of these things in the long term brings us to the second thing, the effect of these things on our children. Again many of us learned only afterwards that our poor choices have dire consequences on our children. Our children can make their own choices of course. The do not have to make the same mistakes we did, but it is the default! Children of alcoholics for example, are far more likely to become alcoholics than the general population. And it continues to their children and their children (Deuteronomy 5:9).

The picture I have of this is of ripples on a pond, that go on and on and on forever. What is interesting though, is that sometimes, if the consequences of our own sin will not bring us back to God, the consequences on our children will. The good news, is that there is one of the Bible's “buts” in the next verse “but showing mercy to thousands (of generations), to those who love Me and keep My commandments” (verse 10). “But” changes everything, both for ourselves and our children if (a) we love him with all of our heart, and (b) we turn to Him in repentance and obey His commandment.

Father, I so want it to go well with me, and with my children. Thank You for Your protection and Your provision. In particular, thank You for Your wonderful promises. Please help us to continue to to work through being diligent to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek Your face and to repent. In this way, we can be confidence that You will heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14 again). Thank You Lord in Jesus Name Amen