Elsewhere Ezekiel has used drama and allegory to convey the message, and will do so again later on, but here a fairly straightforward account of Israel's history is given. As in chapter 14 a group of elders come before Ezekiel, inquiring of the Lord. The Lord's answer is "I will not let them inquire of me". It was more important for the Lord to inquire of them, the elders were the ones who needed to answer questions, not God. This is an oft repeated scenario, people are forever asking why God does this or allows that. But it is we who need to answer questions. There are natural disasters that occur that appear to have no meaning, but the vast majority of human suffering is clearly a result of human activity.
God tells Ezekiel to confront them with the "detestable practices of their ancestors". One of the things I love about the Bible is how balanced it is, how much common sense God has! In chapter 18 we read of the importance of personal responsibility, and I made a few comments about "generational curses". Taken on its own chapter 18 may lead someone to conclude that what our ancestors have done is of no relevance, but here we see that it clearly is of importance. An over emphasis on the importance of what past generations have done is wrong, but it is equally unbiblical to say that they are of little importance.
So often debates between Christians end up with one set going up one gum tree, and another set go up a different gum tree. Both sets then find lots of Biblical texts to prove that they are up the right gum tree, but they are still up a gum tree. It is far better to read the Bible and let the Bible teach us how to think, rather than trying to use the Bible to prove we are up the right gum tree.
PS If you want a wonderful illustration of the balance of the Bible and the danger of proof texts, go and read Proverbs 26:4,5. Which gum tree are you going up!
God tells Ezekiel to confront them with the "detestable practices of their ancestors". One of the things I love about the Bible is how balanced it is, how much common sense God has! In chapter 18 we read of the importance of personal responsibility, and I made a few comments about "generational curses". Taken on its own chapter 18 may lead someone to conclude that what our ancestors have done is of no relevance, but here we see that it clearly is of importance. An over emphasis on the importance of what past generations have done is wrong, but it is equally unbiblical to say that they are of little importance.
So often debates between Christians end up with one set going up one gum tree, and another set go up a different gum tree. Both sets then find lots of Biblical texts to prove that they are up the right gum tree, but they are still up a gum tree. It is far better to read the Bible and let the Bible teach us how to think, rather than trying to use the Bible to prove we are up the right gum tree.
PS If you want a wonderful illustration of the balance of the Bible and the danger of proof texts, go and read Proverbs 26:4,5. Which gum tree are you going up!
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