Family Influence

I have recently been wondering to what extent does family, especially the role of the father; play in one’s life as a child?

To David through Nathan, God speaks of David’s son Solomon...

2 Samuel 7:14-16 (NIV) I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.

An earthly father’s actions can change how the Lord will bless his posterity. To what extent can it also curse later generations? While the son does not inherit any of the father’s sins himself (Ezekiel 18:19-20), the influence of a father’s actions can and has affected the life of the many sons and daughters.

Speaking of Amaziah…

2Ki 14:3 (ESV) And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not like David his father. He did in all things as Joash his father had done.

Speaking of Israel…

2Ki 17:14 (ESV) But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the LORD their God.

2Ki 17:41 (ESV) So these nations feared the LORD and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children's children--as their fathers did, so they do to this day.

To what extent does God give opportunities to the children of those He has decided to bless? While not altering the freedom of choice we each have, it seems that many people are predisposed to and taught to act in ways similar to how they are raised. This may cause some people to have barriers emotionally, psychologically, etc., to knowing God. To each of us God has made himself known (Romans 1:19-20), but is there an imbalance of what ways He does this and to what degree?

If so, how does this fit into the context of equality to all of Gods people? As Paul states in Romans 2:11 (NIV) “For God does not show favoritism.”

To what degree do other’s choices affect our own choices (as noted in the Scripture from 2 Kings above)? Is God completely sovereign only allowing each person to experience and know about him what he has determined (Acts 17:26-27)? My stance is that God in his omniscience has already planned for the ways He foreknew people would freely act, and knowing this He determined the ways to reveal Himself through humanity. I am interested to hear your responses.