God Gives Second Chances (Ezekiel 18:1-32) Series

God doesn't quite extend an invitation in these verses to turn to Him, and turn from death to life. But the foundations for that appeal are all just sitting there. What God doesn't quite say, but what He points to, is that there's a better future available for everyone.

And in verse 30, God builds off that foundation ("therefore"), and invites the exiles to turn back to Him:

(30) Therefore, [with] each one, in accordance with his ways I shall judge you, O House of Israel-- utterance of the Lord Yahweh.

Return,

and turn back from all your rebellions,

and they won't be for you like a stumbling block of avon/sin/guilt/punishment.

(31) Throw off from upon you all your rebellions which you rebelled with them,

and make for yourself a new heart and a new spirit,

and why should you die, O House of Israel?

(32) For I don't delight in the death of the dying-- utterance of the Lord Yahweh,

and return, and live!

God cares about all of his people. All of them belong to Him. And all of God's people, whether they are living in Judah or in Babylon, at the time of Ezekiel 18, still have time this invitation extended to them, to turn from their rebellion, and turn back to God. To choose life, and not death. To receive a better future. There's a clear list of things that God is looking for: faithfulness to Him, turning from idols, and acting rightly toward each other. Don't steal from people; don't harm them. Don't sleep with your wife when she's having her period. Help the poor; lend to those in need, without taking advantage of them. Treat people with respect, and honor. Keep covenant with God and with each other. Do these things, and God will give you life, and only life.

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I ended up making two separate applications. The first-- which follows immediately-- is focused on the idea of generational punishments/curses, since this sermon was designed to follow Numbers 14. The second, which is separated by dashed lines, is how I'd maybe close if I was preaching through Ezekiel, and less interested in the idea of generational sin/guilt/punishment.

One of the things that many Christians spend a lot of time worrying about, is generational punishments, or generational curses. They know that God works not only with individuals, but also with groups. He relates to congregations, generations, as a whole. He relates to families, as a whole. And so they find themselves worrying sometimes about what impact those groups have on the way that God relates to them. Specifically, they worry that they under God's judgment, in one way or another.

This is particularly the case for certain people, who feel as though they are under a curse. For some people, life is just consistently hard, on a regular basis. Some people, some families, some churches, just always seem to have lots of problems. They're sick. They get hurt, all the time. Life is a constant struggle financially. Bad financial decisions are made. Things are constantly breaking. Relationships within those groups are explosive. It feels like things are on the verge of completely, irrevocably falling apart, but it doesn't ever quite hit that point.