CHANGING COURSE (PART 1)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:”

“He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife. He does not oppress anyone or require a pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked. He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor and takes no interest or profit from them. He keeps my laws and follows my decrees.”

“He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.”

Ezekiel 18:14-18

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

There is little question that the environment a child grows up in can impact them in their adult lives. It’s a proven fact in many different regards.

But does a child have to grow up into adulthood and repeat the sins of their parents?

As we’ll see in today’s scripture passage from Ezekiel 18, they don’t have to. They can actually choose to change course and head in a direction that the Lord favors. Look again at these verses:

“But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:”

“He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife. He does not oppress anyone or require a pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked. He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor and takes no interest or profit from them. He keeps my laws and follows my decrees.”

“He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.”  Ezekiel 18:14-18

Over the two devotions prior to this one, God has shown us what righteousness and wickedness look like when viewed through the lens of a person’s life. In each instance, He used the same assessment points which included:

- eating at mountain shrines and practicing idolatry.

- defiling a neighbor’s wife.

- oppressing others.

- committing robbery.

- giving food to the hungry and clothing for the naked.

- mistreating the poor.

- collecting profit or interest from loans to others.

- being obedient to God’s laws and decrees.

In the scenario God uses today, the scene is one where the father has committed wrongs in each of these assessment areas. In other words, he has sinned across the board and even more so as God adds extortion to the charges. And to make things even worse, God makes it clear that all this was done in plain sight of the son.

But note that the son did not need to do as his father did. In fact, God tells us the son did not repeat the mistakes of his parent. Rather, he “does not do such things” even though he saw “all the sins his father” committed. The son opted to follow the ways of righteousness and in doing so, allowed God to be the one who led and guided his life. The son’s will and way were aligned with the will of God and the way God willed for him to go.

So what was the end result?

The son would be rewarded for deciding to be obedient to God, turning away from the wickedness he saw his father commit.

How was the son rewarded?

The scriptures give us the answer for the son would not “die for his father’s sin” but rather would “surely live.” He changed course and made his ways God’s ways, trading in wickedness for righteousness and enjoyed the blessings that came with such a decision.

As for the father, his fate would be much different for God promised that he would “die for his own sin”, for the extortion, robbery, and wrong he committed among his people.

Friends, the take away from the Lord today is that we don’t need to recommit the sins our parents committed. We can all change course and ensure our outcome will be better for we will have lived in a way that garners God’s favor vice His judgment.

Amen

In Christ,

Mark
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