Ezekiel 18:2: What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
Meditation: Have you ever wondered as you’ve read this text what on earth does it mean? Apparently, Israel was using this proverb, complaining that what they were experiencing in terms of judgement or discipline from God was due to the sins of their fathers thus exonerating themselves of any culpability. However, God was demanding that they stop employing this proverb to explain their current state of affairs. They were not being judged due to the sins of their fathers, they were being judged for their own sins! I believe many Christians have the same mind-set as Israel. Rather than taking personal responsibility for our sins, we try to blame our adversities on the sins of others. It’s true that we are heavily influenced by our parents and can learn from them bad or sinful behavior but we have the choice to do right or wrong. Just because our parents were bad doesn’t mean we have to follow their footsteps. God will not chastise us for the sins that others may commit but He will for the one’s we commit.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I’m so thankful that as your blood-bought child, I’ll never have to be concerned with you judging me for my sins. Jesus bore my sins and suffered the judgement that was meant for me. I’m also thankful that I don’t have to concern myself with being disciplined for the sins of others! Help me to “own” my sins, to take responsibility for my actions and to understand the principle of the harvest. Amen.
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