< Exodus 34 >

This verse highlights God's mercy, in that there is a huge contrast between the "thousands" that God is merciful to and only a few that are punished because of iniquity.

It may seem a contradiction that God "visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation" as judgment is based on the person's deeds (Romans 2:6,Waiting for response for Romans 2:6 Galatians 6:7)Waiting for response for Galatians 6:7 so the student may ask the question "why would the children be punished for the sin of their father?". God answers this question in Ezekiel 18. The people of Israel had a proverb which was in line with this characteristic of God (Ezekiel 18:2)Waiting for response for Ezekiel 18:2 but didn't fully understand what this characteristic meant, so God explained it to them. The explanation is that people will be judged according to their deeds (Ezekiel 18:5).Waiting for response for Ezekiel 18:5 If they sin and turn away from it, they are saved (Ezekiel 18:21).Waiting for response for Ezekiel 18:21 If they are righteous and turn away from their righteousness and sin, they will die (Ezekiel 18:26).Waiting for response for Ezekiel 18:26

It may be that someone find themselves in a bad situation because of their parents' deeds (for example, they may be in jail due to a crime they committed). This may negatively impact their children, and so we see that "the iniquity of the father" visits their children, but their children does not have to follow the same path their parents did. The lessen that is recorded in Ezekiel 18 makes it clear that everyone has their own choices to make, and will be judged according to their own deeds. Beyond this, it also shows God's mercy and lovingkindness in that he will forgive the sinner when they repent.

Firstborn male was to be redeemed with a lamb - this is symbolic of Jesus being sacrificed for our salvation.