Then the LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel... On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 1 Samuel 3:11-13

God’s law speaks of the sins of fathers visiting their children (Exodus 20:5). This does not mean that the children are to be punished for the sins of their parents (Deuteronomy 24:16). But this does not mean that the sins of the parents will not affect their children, nor does it mean that the sins of children will not affect their parents.

I am sure that you can think of ways a person’s sin most assuredly does affect others, including family members.

Eli, the high priest, knew of the gross sins his incorrigible sons were committing, but he did nothing to stop them. Had Eli at least tried, maybe the curse on that family line would not have happened. But Eli “did not restrain them.” and so Eli and his entire family suffered the effects!

Let us beware: our sins do not merely affect us, but others as well. And when we are in a position to hold others accountable, woe to us if we do not!