All people are responsible to God for attitudes and actions…obedience or disobedience? God says that the sins of the fathers will be visited on the generations to follow. Is there some way to avoid this for your future generations? Most all of us have serious sins and problems in our heritage! In almost every family there is divorce, alcoholism and/or sexual impurity. Does this automatically cascade down to our families? What is our responsibility? Is there anything we can do to mitigate this prophecy?
Ezekial 18 In studying Ezekiel, we learn that the Israelites are in captivity in Babylon. It seems that they are having many struggles and are blaming their forefathers for everything that is presently happening in their lives. Most often, the Israelites responded poorly, just as we do. By studying this block of Scripture of the Israelites’ challenge, we can learn how to deal with issues that we face now.
“The word of the Lord came to me again, saying...” This is an outstanding opening statement. It is amazing that the Lord communicated to His people through Ezekial. Do you believe that the Lord communicates with His people today? Can He communicate with YOU today through Ezekial? We have His Word readily available and can make reading It, studying and meditating on His Word a priority every day. Ezekial identifies the problem of the day in verse 2 “What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge? … the people were complaining and in essence were saying that they were paying for their forefathers’ sins. ‘It is their fault’ – ‘their sins have put us in exile’
We know for sure that the sins of our ancestors have an influence in and on our lives today. Alcoholism, moral impurity and such seem to run in families. The expression “there is bad blood in that family” has a basis. However, the knowledge of the influence of our forefathers does not take away the personal responsibility that we have for our own actions.
We are accountable for the impact and influence we have on others…particularly for those in our own family. (song: Let Those Who Come Behind Us Find Us Faithful) In Cor. 8 – 10 Paul discusses our influence as a model of Christian behavior.
verse 3 “As I live, says the Lord God, you shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel… instructs that the Israelites are to no longer use this proverb as an excuse. Any effort to escape personal responsibility is futile. Many of us don’t excuse overtly as they did, but we choose to believe that old adage, “time heals everything!” No, time does not heal…time only adds layers to the impact of unresolved problems and mounts the weight upon those who follow!
The strength of this statement is found in the three words, “As I live!”
God is the Creator. He breathed the breath of life into every soul. All members of the family belong to Him. All are responsible to Him for their actions. We cannot blame our parents or any of those who have gone before us. We are individually responsible for our actions and attitudes. We can and must break the bondage of generational sin.
Modern day philosophy teaches us to transfer blame to others – primarily the parents! This technique is balancing guilt with blame. This creates a vast base of clients who go for counseling to receive a fix for their turmoil. Some people discover that individual responsibility produces the best result. And when they come to understand the means by which to take responsibility and do it, they rejoice over being obedient and have hope of victory in breaking the pattern.
In verses 4 – 9 it simply says that a man who is righteous does what is right and there are benefits…”he shall surely live”. There is an absence of habitual sin as well as goodness of heart. The righteous does what is lawful and right, does not commit adultery , acts lovingly toward others, does not rob, given to the hungry, clothed the poor, does not charge interest, withholds his hand from iniquity, executes true justice, walks in the Lord’s statues and keeps His ordinances. (Matt.7:17 Jesus speaks of the good tree producing good fruit.)
This whole block of Scripture speaks of a way of life. The word STATUTES comes from a root word that means engraved. The best meaning for us today is that we have His law and principles written in our hearts…that is the source of freedom. Many people – even atheists may know the Word of God but It is of no effect in their lives because It is not written on their hearts. What about your heart?
In verse 6, it is explained that the righteous does not look to idols or pagan practices. In applying this block of Scripture to our present life, we need to ask “Do I have other gods in my life?”
Also in verse 6: does not defile – refers to guarding against all forms of moral impurity and maintaining marital fidelity. In this technology age, the internet and pornography are a temptation for all of us. We need to covenant with our eyes as Job did in order to protect from sin. Even older men are falling prey to this pervasive habit and it robs us in our final years. Rather than productive years…they become difficult years. Rather than allowing the Lord to use us—yielding to His life in and through us, we leave a terrible heritage for our loved ones. There is certainly no way to blame this particular action on your forefathers, but the root of the sin has always been around. The temptations seem more “in your face” than any other time in history.
With a willing heart to help others, we will avoid the loaning of money at interest. IF you do loan, consider it a gift and then if it is returned, it will be a pleasant surprise.
Verses 10 – 13 If a righteous man has a son who commits man sins – may include murder, and leaves undone the duties of as righteous person of goodness to others, this wicked son shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him! (personal, individual responsibility for his behavior!)
Verses 14 – 17 The son of the Unrighteous man sees all the sins of his father and chooses to live a righteous life – he shall not die for the iniquity of his father; he shall surely live.
Verses 18 – The father will die for his iniquity and guilt.
(personal, individual responsibility for his behavior!)
The righteous father will live, the unrighteous father will not live, the son who did not follow after the unrighteous father’s example will live – each will be punished for his personal individual response.
There was a drunkard father who had two sons. One of the sons became a drunkard just like his father. The other son was a tee-totaler, he would not touch alcohol. Some asked the question “Why are you like you are?” The drunkard son replied, “with a father like mind, what would you expect?” The sober son replied, “with a father like mind, what would you expect.
This story clearly demonstrates that our behavior is our personal responsibility and each of us is free to respond to the same situation in a different manner. It is not what happens to us in life that really matters, but how we respond to our present circumstances or our heritage.
Ezekial assured the audience that the Lord took no pleasure in the death of the wicked – He is not willing that any should perish. He knew that the listeners would accuse God of not being fair. God is just. He is always acting precisely in accordance of His principles and statutes. Each of us is accountable for our own life and consequently God calls us to repent and turn to Him.
The Lord is speaking to the house of Israel, but it certainly pertains to us! Parallel N.T. Scriptures, Eph. 4:22-24 The old heart of a man is “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, but He has give the born again a ‘new heart.’ Reckon what He has said to be true and yield to His will and way in your life.
What has this to do with the next generation:
The sin pattern demonstrated by our lives definitely gives our children a license to behave the same way. “What I do in moderation, others will use a license to do in excess!”
* Commitment: a clean life! That my legacy will be one of a righteous saint!
Dealing with generational sin is VERY important! Exodus, 34:7 and Numbers 14:18 make it clear that “the iniquity of the fathers will be visited upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.” In Exodus 20:5-6 the same is stated but there is also the promise: “But showing mercy and steadfast love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
We cannot help the sins of our forefathers, we cannot seek and find forgiveness for them, but there is something we can do. Instead of justifying and attempting to explain away their sins and cover their misbehavior, we must confess them! The confession is for our benefit and for the benefit of those who follow us.
Nehemiah 9:2 “And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins AND THE INIQUITIES OF THEIR FATHERS!”
Recognizing and confessing sin as sin helps in the renewal of our minds and enables us to think Godly thoughts, see things from God’s perspective rather than constantly justifying and pursuing an answer to the question WHY. Rather than remaining angry –overtly or inwardly, we can forgive and not allow bitterness to rule our lives. To absence ourselves from the person, the parent, the past – nor death separating us – does not negate the after effects.
If death has separated you from someone who left you an ungodly pattern of life or left you with the pain and hurt of words or behavior…deal with it today. Verbally, “I forgive you” OR “Will you please forgive me, I was wrong!” There is no magic in this process, but it can rid the bondage of a bad relationship.
Confess to the Lord that what your forefathers – maybe a parent, a grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc. – was wrong…acknowledge their action as SIN! Not mistake, nor such, but SIN!
What about the heritage that you are leaving? We should always confess sin to the Father as the Holy Spirit makes us aware of sin in our lives. But we should also confess sin to our children – never detail of sins but the root sin in our life. In order to protect our children, we should not be defensive or explain away our sin but confess it as wrong. In many cases, we need to ask forgiveness of our children and others in our family. The most powerful words in the English language when you have sinned against someone is “I WAS WRONG!”
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