Ezekiel 18 For His Own Sins
God tells Ezekiel that each man shall be judged for his own sins. The sins of the father will not be visited on the children.
This is a departure from what God said when He gave Israel His commandments. But it is also at the heart of His commandments. While giving the people His commandments, God said; “You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Deuteronomy 5:9-10), I believe that He was speaking as a national sin. We see it today in the decay of our world. The farther our leaders get from following godly principles and serving Him, the worse our world becomes. The values decay to the point that they no longer exist. Israel, in Ezekiel’s time, was doing the same thing. Even when they had reform, idols were not fully removed. Some things ‘were let slide’ in order to appease the people. That is why Israel was in the mess she was.
But EACH PERSON is responsible for their own relationship with God. I can’t get to Heaven on my mother’s faith in God, any more than I will be sent to Hell by her actions. I have to stand on my own relationship with God. Ezekiel is coming face to face with this knowledge today. Let’s join him as he moves through this revelation. Holy Spirit, lead this journey today. Show me what You would have me learn from this time and how to apply it to my life.
♥ ♦ ♥
Ezekiel is still not able to chime in to whatever conversation is going on around him. The Lord still has control of his tongue. But he can listen in.
As Ezekiel sits in his garden, behind the wall of his house, he hears two men talking. His interest is piqued by what he hears.
“That’s why Israel is doomed today.”
“But it’s not fair” cries the other.
“You know the proverb as well as I do. ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’ (Ezekiel 18:2).”
“I know it, but I still don’t like it.”
“We don’t have to like it, or even think it is fair. It is what it is. Our fathers rebelled against God, and we are paying the price of that rebellion.”
The two move on with their discussion and Ezekiel is left to ponder their words. He remembers the words in the Torah, where God said He is a jealous God and that He would vindicate Himself upon the third and fourth generations. He starts nodding his head in agreement with the first man. This must be why Israel is falling to its enemies.
God hears Ezekiel’s heart and his mind wrestling with this issue. “I need to straighten him out” God decides. “And then he will straighten out My people.”
God speaks directly to Ezekiel’s current heart position. And this lesson will be for ALL of Israel as well.
“What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:2-4).
The wheels in Ezekiel’s mind grind to a screeching halt. “What do you mean Lord? You are the one who said…”
God interrupts Ezekiel’s thoughts. “I know what I said. I never forget a single word that flows from My mouth. At the time I uttered those words, I was speaking to the first generation of My people as they left Egypt. They needed to KNOW that their actions have consequences on those that follow them. If they would have heeded My warning then, they wouldn’t be in the mess they are today. I am still dealing with the stubborn hearts from that original generation.”
God shakes His head and sighs. Then He begins again. “Hear what I am saying now, for it is for My people today. Each one of them must make a decision in their hearts. They either follow Me and My statutes and live, or refuse to do so and die. It doesn’t matter what their fathers did before them. THEY are EACH responsible for their own behavior. No more excuses! No more, ‘I don’t have a chance because of what my father was like’. It is individual decision time.”
“If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity, does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, does not lend at interest or take any profit, withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man, walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; he shall surely live” (Ezekiel 18:5-9).
Ezekiel nods. He can get behind this idea. God continues to hone this point.
“If he fathers a son who is violent, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things (though he himself did none of these things), who even eats upon the mountains, defiles his neighbor’s wife, oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination, lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:10-13).
The very description of this man makes Ezekiel’s blood boil. “I have known such men” he thinks to himself. “And I prayed that You would bring their own wickedness down on their heads!”
God nods again. “He is beginning to understand” thinks the Lord. “Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise: he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife, does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father’s iniquity; he shall surely live. As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity” (Ezekiel 18:14-18).
Ezekiel is still turning this over in his spirit. He is trying to reconcile Israel’s current state with God’s heart.
“Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:19-20).
Ezekiel nods his head too. “This is as it should be” he thinks. “Each man responsible for his own heart.”
“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die” (Ezekiel 18:21-24).
Ezekiel contemplates this concept too. “I can understand this, Lord. And it feels like it ‘should’ be right; but difficult for the once righteous man. To have all that he has done wiped away because he has changed. Also, for the ‘once wicked’ person. Will everything he has done be wiped away? Even all the hurt he has inflicted upon others?”
God hears Ezekiel’s heart. He hears the struggle, but He will NOT relent in His own judgments.
“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?” (Ezekiel 18:25-29).
Ezekiel falls to his knees. “You are just Lord God. I am ashamed for ever believing otherwise. Thank You for showing me Your truths.”
“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live” (Ezekiel 18:30-32).
“What would You have me do Lord? With this word of Yours.”
“Go and speak it long and loud to My people that they may EACH turn and live by doing what is righteous. That they may know the TRUTH and JUSTICE of their God.”
Ezekiel rises from his knees and makes his way to his favorite stone in the marketplace. Many people fall silent as they see him approaching. They begin to gather as he steps up onto his stone.
“Hear the word of the Lord, you, His people. He has spoken a word for EACH of us to ponder in his own heart and decide his own course from this moment on.”
Ezekiel looks around him. All eyes are on him. Business in the marketplace has come to a halt. Ezekiel nods and begins sharing his morning.
“As I was sitting in my garden, I overheard a conversation. In that conversation two men were speaking of a parable that most, if not all of you know. ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’”
People around the marketplace begin nodding their heads.
“The Lord says that THIS IS NOT SO!”
Brows knit in confusion and some people become angry.
Ezekiel can feel the tension building. He quickly goes on. “The Lord says that EACH of us is responsible for our own soul. The soul of the wicked shall die, and the soul of the righteous will live.”
The people’s resistance begins to falter as he shares with them the rest of the Lord’s words. This will not be an overnight change, but it takes root in many of the hearts of those gathered around. It will be a message that is repeated several times over before the people internalize this truth.
Ezekiel comes to this same rock with this same message for a full week. By the time he stops sharing it with the people, they have either accepted it or completely reject it. Only the Lord knows which direction each heart leans.
(to be continued)
I’m not 100% certain on my reasoning for the new directive of the Lord. This is what has been ministered to my heart though. Take of it what you will.
Thank You Father God for judging us as individuals. That means that my family, before and after me, does not control my relationship with You; either good or bad. Our relationship is our own! Help strengthen my relationship daily with You Father, on a daily basis. Keep me searching and learning from Your word. Keep me growing closer to You each day.
