(Understanding Ancestral Covenants 1)
Isaiah 49:24-25 (KJV) “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? [25] But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.”
Many destinies remain limited not necessarily because of personal failure but due to unseen spiritual forces rooted in negative ancestral covenants. These covenants, which are established by forefathers through words, sacrifices, or idolatrous practices, create spiritual legalities that affect later generations. Negative ancestral covenants are “spiritual agreements” established by parents, grandparents, or ancestors with spiritual entities, idols, shrines, secret societies, territorial spirits, or deities, knowingly or unknowingly. These covenants may include dedications, sacrifices, vows, rituals, or spiritual exchanges. In today’s study, we will focus on examples of negative ancestral covenants and patterns from the Old Testament. Tomorrow, by God’s grace, we shall consider New Testament examples.
The clearest biblical example of negative ancestral covenants (oaths, or agreements) made by forefathers that brought bondage, consequences, or curses on later generations is found in the story of the covenant Joshua made with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9). Joshua swore an oath to protect them forever (without consulting with God). Now, generations later, in the time of David, Israel experienced famine for three years and national judgment. When David enquired of the LORD God what was responsible for the famine, the LORD God said, “On Saul and on his family there is blood, because he put the Gibeonites to death” (2Sa. 21:1; BBE). Another Bible version says it this way: “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites” (BSB). So, a covenant made long before David’s time brought generational consequences.
Now, in Isaiah 28, Israel made a spiritual covenant with foreign powers and demonic deceptions to secure themselves. The Almighty God called this covenant - “A covenant with death and with hell” (Isaiah 28:15). This covenant brought national calamity and judgment. But out of His mercies and love for His people, the LORD God had to break this covenant supernaturally (Isaiah 28:18). Ancestral agreements, generational judgments, inherited curses, and ancestral spiritual bondages affect people until they are broken through Christ Jesus.
Written by: Andrew A. Esemudje