.JPG)
The Bible Breakdown
Bible reading plan and SOAP guide: www.experiencerlc.com/the-bible
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: www.brandoncannon.com
The Bible Breakdown
Ezekiel 18: God Does Not Give Up On Us
Ask a Question
Send Encouragement
|||| Take a Next Step ||||
SOAP Bible Study Method.
Bible Reading Plan.
Free Weekly Newsletter.
|||| Social ||||
Facebook.
Instagram.
X.
YouTube.
The More We Dig. The More We Find.
Well, everybody, welcome back to the Bible Breakdown podcast with your host, pastor Brandon, today. Ezekiel, chapter 18, and today's title is God Does Not Give Up on Us. God does not give up on us, and thank goodness for that right. If there's ever anything that we have to be thankful for, is that God doesn't give up on us, even when we might have given up on other people. Right, god is always faithful. We're going to get to all that in just a moment, but, as always, while you're opening up your Bible to Ezekiel, chapter 18, make sure you take a moment to like, share and subscribe to the YouTube channel and the podcast. Make sure you leave us a five-star review on the podcast it really does help and make sure you're going to the Bible Breakdown Discussion on Facebook. There's an amazing group of people doing a wonderful job, and make sure you comment on it. If nothing else, just say hi, let us know that you are there, because they do a lot of hard work there and it's really encouraging for them to see not only are you reading it, but you're responding. The whole point of doing the discussion group was to create a community, so make sure you go there because, as we always say, the more we dig, the more we find.
Speaker 1:Well, once again, don't forget, as we're getting into Ezekiel, that the overall goal is God's promise of renewal. And even though all these bad things are happening all the bad stuff is going on God is still saying he wants to renew his people, he wants to bring life to them, he wants to bring joy to them. In so many ways he wants to renew them. And one of the things that we are getting out of Ezekiel over and over and over again is that, even though these bad things are happening, god is still saying and then you're going to see me for who I am, then you're going to turn to me. Then all this he's showing them, all of this justice and judgment that's going to happen, but his heart is still pushed toward that connection that he wants to have with him. We're going to see that again today about the justice of a righteous God and how God never gives up on us, even in the midst of judgment. So let's see what God's Word has to say to us. Ezekiel 18, verse 1 says this Then another message came to me from the Lord.
Speaker 1:Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel? The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children's mouth pucker at its taste. As surely as I live, says the sovereign Lord. You will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel, for all people are mine to judge, both parents and children alike. And this is my rule the person who sins is the one who will die.
Speaker 1:Suppose a certain man is righteous and does what is just and right. He does not feast in the mountains before Israel's idols and worship them. He does not commit adultery or have intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period. That's disgusting. Verse 7,. He is a merciful creditor, not keeping the items given as security by poor debtors. He does not rob the poor, but instead gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy. He grants loans without interest and stays away from injustice. He is honest and fair when he judges others and faithfully obeys my decrees and regulations. Anyone who does these things is just and will surely live, says the Lord.
Speaker 1:But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber, a murderer, and refuses to do what's right. That son who does all the evil things his father would never do. He worships idols on the mountains and he commits adultery. He oppresses the poor and helpless steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No, he must die and take full blame. No, he must die and make full and take full blame. But suppose that sinful son in turn has a son who sees his father's wickedness and decides against that kind of life. His son refuses to worship idols on the mountains and does not commit adultery. He does not exploit the poor but instead is fair to debtors and does not rob them. He gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy. He helps the poor and does not lend money to strangers. He obeys all my regulations and decrees.
Speaker 1:Such a person will not die because of his father's sins. He will surely live. But the father will die for his many sins and for being cruel, robbing people and doing what is clearly wrong among his people. Why, you ask, doesn't the child pay for the parent's sins? No, for if the child does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will surely live. The person who sins is the one who will die. The person will not be punished for the parent's sins and the parent will not be punished for the child's sins.
Speaker 1:Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is right, they will surely live and not. All their past sins will be forgotten and they will live because of the righteous things they have done. Do you think that I like to see wicked people die, says the Lord? Of course not. I want them to turn from their ways and live. However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing what is sinful and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not. All their righteous acts will be forgotten and they will die for their sins.
Speaker 1:Yet you say the Lord isn't doing what's right. Listen to me, o people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what is right or is it you? When righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds. And if wicked people turn from their wickedness and obey the law and do what is just and right, they will save their lives. They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die. And yet the people of Israel keep saying the Lord isn't doing what's right. O people of Israel, it is you who are not doing what is right, not I. Therefore, I will judge each of you, o people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent and turn from your sins. Don't let them destroy you. Put all your rebellion behind you. Find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why, at that last four words Turn back and live. Turn back and live. You remember what we've been talking about over the past several days, as God has been revealing to them over and over and over again what a dumpster fire they are. All the things that they have been doing, and yet God has not given up on them.
Speaker 1:And do you notice what he said in here? He said do you really think that I like seeing people get punishment? He said do you think I like seeing wicked people get judged? No, you know why? Because I don't want them to be wicked, I don't want them to turn away from me. And he said even though I am punishing the wicked people for their wickedness. He said. People are saying to me God, how is that fair? And you can almost hear in God's word God going. Does that make sense to you? Of course not. It's not that it doesn't, that is you don't think it's fair, it's just you don't want it to happen to you. And you know, honestly and here's the, here's the thing how about this? I don't many people don't know this, but but as of right now, in 2025, I have no idea when you're listening to this, which is kind of cool to think about Some of you may be listening to this years from now.
Speaker 1:Right now, I'm in the process of finishing up two different doctorate degrees, right, and one of my doctorate degrees is on apologetics, and I took a PhD-level class on the problem of evil. At the end of taking a PhD-level class on the problem of evil, you know what the end result was? I don't know. I have no idea why God does some of the things he does, but I have a whole lot of really good ideas for how God is allowed to do what he wants to do, because he's God.
Speaker 1:But here's the thing that doesn't help. We could sit here and talk about theodicies, which is arguments for why God does things that we can have really good logical conversations about why God does what he does, but that doesn't help when we're hurting, and that's what God is sitting here saying. He's saying you are telling me I'm not being fair. Do you realize, when you look from my point of view, that everyone deserves judgment? The Bible says no one is righteous no, not one. Therefore, every time I give a single drop of mercy, you're right, I'm not being fair, I'm being overly generous. And here's the thing I like, that I want to be overly generous, I want to be merciful, I want to do exceedingly and abundantly.
Speaker 1:Above all, you can ask or think, and so that's what I love about this chapter is that God is just he's reasoning with these people and he's saying you are telling me, I'm not being fair. Do you realize what you were doing? Do you realize the fallenness that you have? And I'm still saying turn back to me and live. And so it's almost like God is saying you're right, I'm not being fair, I shouldn't be doing this, but it's because I love you so very much.
Speaker 1:And can I tell you, everyone I know who's been a Christian longer than about five seconds at some point has said why God, or they've said God, that's not fair. Can I tell you something? If you've ever said that, that's because you're human and you're normal and you've wondered about such things. But what God is saying is is he's saying if you understood my heart, I don't want to see wicked people suffer because I don't want them to be wicked, I don't want them to turn away from me. So therefore, when they do, I don't like it, I don't want that, so don't do that, please turn. Turn back to me. And he's begging them turn back and live.
Speaker 1:And that's why someone said this to me one time, and it has helped so much to say that when I've taken all the classes and I've done all the things and I still don't always know why God does what he does, I realized that when I understand his character, who he is, by reading his word, that even when I don't understand his ways, I trust who he is and that he is always faithful, he is always good. And he's always got that door cracked open just in case I want to come back to him and he says turn back and live. Let's pray together right now, god. Thank you so much for today. Thank you, god, that your word for us is to turn back and live.
Speaker 1:Lord, for those of us who are following you but we're hurting, right now, we're dealing with why?
Speaker 1:Why would you do that God? Why didn't you do that God? Why did you let them go there? Why didn't you let them go there, lord? I pray that we will hear you respond and say do you really think that I want anything less than the best for them?
Speaker 1:So can you trust me? If you can't trust what I'm doing, can you trust who I am? Lord, we say yes, but just like the man with his son when he's talking to Jesus. Lord, help our unbelief. Help us, lord, to trust you more. Help us, lord, to know you. As Paul said, I want to know you, lord, in the power of your resurrection, because the more I know you, the more I am thankful for every time you. Let me turn back and live. Thank you for today. In Jesus' name, we pray Amen. You know what God's word says in Ezekiel 34, verse 14, I will put my spirit on you and you will live again. God loves us more than we can imagine and he wants us to live fully in him. I love you. I'll see you tomorrow for Ezekiel, chapter 19.
