October 31, 2020: Day 70 – Ezekiel 18

Is God fair?  A really interesting chapter for me this time around.  The basic premise is that while in the past we used to punish the children for the sins of their parents, as well as the parents being punished, now things are different.  If the children grow up and are righteous and do not commit the same sins as the parents then the children should not be punished.  They should not have their teeth set on edge when their parents eat a lemon, or sour grapes.  

We have transitioned from oracles to laws which have changed and which are different during this time period.  No longer will you hold the sins of the parents over the heads of the children, unless the children commit the same sins as the parents.  While there is a listing of the sins that we are talking about, I think it is wiser to not focus on the list, but rather to be able to see this transition from punishment to the future generations to: “The person who sins shall die.”  Another great quote that we find is: “The righteousness of the righteous shall be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be his own.” 

This chapter also provides room for rehabilitation.  It states very clearly what our criminal justice policy should be: “Have I pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live?”  That should be all of our goals and all of our desires that people would turn from their evil ways so that they can live.