Shifting the Blame
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 30-32
“The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb
about the land of Israel: “‘The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set
on edge’?
“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in
Israel. For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to
me. The one who sins is the one who will die.”
“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways,
declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not
be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new
heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the
death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”
"Why did this happen to us? How did our country end up in such a mess? Who is to
blame?” The people of Judah wrestled with these painful questions as they faced the
devastation of exile. Their nation had fallen, they were torn from their homes, and their
former lives were shattered. It was only natural to ask why—and to search for someone
to blame.
This instinct to assign blame is as old as humanity itself. Remember Adam, blaming Eve
for giving him the forbidden fruit? And Eve, blaming the serpent for tricking her? When
facing hardship or failure, we often look backward, finding fault in others rather than
looking within.
In Ezekiel 18, God speaks directly to the Israelites’ tendency to blame others,
particularly their ancestors. They were convinced that their suffering was the result of
the sins of prior generations. After all, it is undeniable that a parent’s actions shape
future generations. Our beliefs, habits, and values are like an inheritance, passed down
and influencing the lives of our children, and their children, and so on. And so, Israel
adopted the sinful behaviors of the generations before them, but they failed to recognize
their sins as their own. Instead of examining their own hearts and taking responsibility
for their actions, they cast blame.
In verse 4, God challenges their thinking, saying, “The one who sins is the one who will
die.” While we cannot deny that we are impacted by the past, we need to stop using it
as an excuse. Blaming others, whether people or circumstances, only serves as a way
to avoid personal responsibility. Instead of casting blame, we should be examining
ourselves.
Recognizing the sin in our lives is critical, but it doesn't stop there. When “we confess
our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This promise reminds us that acknowledgment of our
failings opens the door to God's forgiveness, made possible by Jesus' sacrifice on the
cross. Jesus bore our sins without blame and in doing so, He ended the blame game,
offering grace, forgiveness, and new life for all.
As we navigate our daily lives, let us pray Psalm 139:23-24, asking God to help us
uncover the sins in our hearts and to guide us in the way of truth.
“Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”