Sour Grapes
The children of Israel had a proverb in the days of the prophets. "…The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?" (Ezekiel 18:2) This of course is simply not true. A father does not eat a sour grape and a child's face is puckered from the tartness of the fruit. God would set the record straight and no longer allow Israel to cite such foolishness (Ezekiel 18:3).
We learn in the text of Ezekiel 18 that "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father; neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him" (verse 20).
This passage teaches us that we do not have to fall victim to our circumstances. If we have a wicked family we do have to fall prey to their wickedness. We can rise above their lawlessness, and be rewarded for our own obedience. The opposite is also true. If we have a good family, that goodness does not preserve us in our wickedness. "For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:10-12) Truly this is the only way it can be for God to be just and fair. "Is not My way equal?" (Ezekiel 18:25)
The children of Israel had a proverb in the days of the prophets. "…The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?" (Ezekiel 18:2) This of course is simply not true. A father does not eat a sour grape and a child's face is puckered from the tartness of the fruit. God would set the record straight and no longer allow Israel to cite such foolishness (Ezekiel 18:3).
We learn in the text of Ezekiel 18 that "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father; neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him" (verse 20).
This passage teaches us that we do not have to fall victim to our circumstances. If we have a wicked family we do have to fall prey to their wickedness. We can rise above their lawlessness, and be rewarded for our own obedience. The opposite is also true. If we have a good family, that goodness does not preserve us in our wickedness. "For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:10-12) Truly this is the only way it can be for God to be just and fair. "Is not My way equal?" (Ezekiel 18:25)
- by Stacy Crim
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