Ezekiel 18 -- It's Not God Who's Unfair

This chapter pretty well says it like it is.  The captives tried complaining about how unfair God was, punishing them for their ancestors’ sin, but God showed them otherwise.  Through various examples, He told them they couldn’t blame their ancestors, nor could they blame Him.  They could only blame themselves.  My commentary really made it easy to understand:

“If they would truly repent and turn to the Lord, He would work on their behalf as He promised … However, if they persisted in sinning, the Lord would continue to deal with them as rebellious children.  God has no delight in the death of the wicked, but He isn’t obligated to invade their minds and hearts and force them to obey Him.”

“When they obeyed the Lord, they wanted Him to keep the terms of the covenant that promised blessing, but when they disobeyed, they didn’t want Him to keep the terms of the covenant that brought chastening.  They wanted God to act contrary to His own Word and His own holy nature.”

“Nowhere does Scripture say that we’re saved from our sins by God’s love, because salvation is by the grace of God, and grace is love that pays a price.”

If only they would seek Him by faith, God promised them a new heart.  That’s what they wouldn’t learn.

Father, I desperately need to convey this message to those I love.  Please help me to do so faithfully.  And open ears and hearts and minds so they can hear and understand Your important message for them.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford