Thought for the Week

We continue with our study of Ezekiel 18 to get a wonderful picture of God. He has denied the use of an unjust proverb. People had been saying God was not fair because He was punishing them for the sins of their ancestors. Rather God said in verse 20, “The soul that sins shall die.” In other words, the person who commits sin shall be punished for the sin he commits. And conversely, the one who lives a good life shall receive blessing/reward. But, now God goes on in verse 21 to offer a hopeful thought: If the wicked shall turn from all his sins and keep My commandments and do what is lawful and good, he shall live. He shall not surely be punished (die). Verse twenty-two, gives something even better: “All the wrongs a sinner who repents has committed shall not be mentioned against him. He shall rather live with the blessing of the righteous things he has done.” Next God asks a question we should all be asking about him: “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” He answers His Own question: “I would rather the wicked person turns away from his wrongdoing and lives.” In this statement, we see the long-suffering mercy of God. It is wonderful to know God would willingly forgive the wrongdoings of a person. It offers hope for the sinner. But even as God is merciful, so God is just and fair for He also says, “If a person who has lived righteously turns away from righteous living and begins intentionally to live in sin and commit sin, then the good things he did in the past will not be remembered in his favor. He shall suffer consequences of this change. The people had been accusing God of being unfair because they said He punished them for the sins of their ancestors. But we can see God is fair and the people’s accusations were unfair. People were being punished for their own sins. They were rewarded for their own righteous actions. This chapter paints a wonderful picture of God. So often people see God as a God of wrath. But here we see Him as a God Who wants people to turn away from sin and turn toward righteousness. He knows sin will ruin people. This is the reason God hates sin. He does love righteousness and the people who do righteous things. Verse 30 is as clear as any New Testament readings: “…Repent, and turn yourselves from your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions… make yourself a new heart and new spirit: why will you die… ? O house of Israel (this applies for people all over the world and across the centuries of time) I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked wherefore, turn … and live.” Rather than picture God with a big stick raised to punish people for their transgressions, we should picture Him with wide-open arms, ready to welcome the wayward child back into a right relationship with Him. It is true that not only Ezekiel but other Prophets as well give warnings of the punishment awaiting the wicked nations surrounding Israel. But it is unfair to God to fail to tell that there can serve as warnings and examples of God’s burning desire for people to turn from sin and turn toward God. To do acts of kindness and love to others and to refrain from doing sinful, harmful things to other people. God wants us to love one another as He loves us.

Scriptures to Read

Ezekiel 1:1-9

Ezekiel 1:10-17

Ezekiel 1:18-23

Ezekiel 1:24-26

Ezekiel 1:27-29

Ezekiel 1:30-32

Galatians 6:7-10