Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers out there. Most everyone knows the fifth commandment "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12). Well what if someone grew up in a home that the father was not a good example. Today most psychologists would blame someone's problems on their parents. The Bible gives a different answer. Ezekiel 18: 2-4 says "What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children's teeth are set on edge'? "As I live," says the Lord God, "you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die. " This statement about eating sour grapes is saying their forefathers sinned and they inherited it. God explains that He rejects this blame shifting and emphasizes individual accountability. The death mentioned is physical death, we know this from Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." People are not stuck in a bad cycle, they can overcome and break it. I would encourage everyone to read the rest of Ezekiel chapter 18 for further information on overcoming such a problem.

Posted by Craig