Ezekiel 18:1-32

content/bible_journal/ezekiel_18:1-32.md

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+title = "Ezekiel 18:1–32"
+date = "2023-04-17"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel18.1-32)
+
+This message from the Lord concerns His justice as it applies to individuals.
+There was apparently a proverb in Israel that taught that the actions of a
+father affected his sons' lives. While that is true to an extent, the
+Israelites must have been using it in a way that made it seem that God was not
+just in His dealings with people. Just as a man eating sour grapes doesn't
+transfer the sour taste to his sons' mouths, neither does his iniquity get
+passed down from generation to generation.
+
+It is important to note the distinction between punishment and consequences.
+Many improper actions have natural consequences that occur simply because they
+have been done. Liars and traitors become mistrusted, heavy drinking causes
+health problems, the spendthrift doesn't have enough money. All of these are
+mere consequences. Punishments are consequences that are imposed by an external
+authority in order to get recompense for the crime committed and as a further
+discouragement from further infractions.
+
+The Lord presents three case studies to help us understand, and they are all
+related to each other. The first man is righteous as we can see from the list
+of things he does and does not do, and the Lord says he will live. These are
+all things listed in the Law of Moses that God's people were to do or not do.
+The second man is the first's son, and he does the opposite of his father in
+every way. He is thoroughly worthless and wicked, and so the Lord says he shall
+die. The third man is the second's son, and after seeing all that his father
+did, he follows instead in the ways of his grandfather. Unlike his father who
+brought judgement upon himself through his wicked deeds, the third man lives.
+
+Amazingly, the people of Israel did not think this was right. I can only think
+that they must have wanted to be pardoned because their fathers and
+grandfathers were rigtheous. Surely they wouldn't want their children to be
+punished for what they have done. It may be that they considered the whole
+community to be a moral unit, and everyone shared in blessings or curses
+together. Whatever the case, the Lord refutes their assertion and says He
+punishes individuals for their own sin. It doesn't matter who you are related
+to in terms of morality.
+
+The Lord then drops a bomb into the dialogue by saying that a wicked man can
+become righteous and a righteous man can become wicked. It is the last state
+that they persist in that the Lord considers, not the former way that he
+walked. The hypothetical Israelites also say that this is not just, but the
+Lord corrects this attitude as well. Since we have the whole, complete inspired
+Word of God, we can understand that everyone actually starts out wicked, under
+the curse of sin, but through the work of Jesus Christ we can repent and
+believe that He will work righteousness through us. The Lord has made a way, so
+repent.
+
+* * *
+
+You do not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, but want all to come to
+repentence.