Ezekiel 14 - 8.21.23

Scripture

Ezekiel‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Son of man, suppose the people of a country were to sin against me, and I lifted my fist to crush them, cutting off their food supply and sending a famine to destroy both people and animals. Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, their righteousness would save no one but themselves, says the Sovereign Lord.”

Observation

Ezekiel receives another message from God. It is regarding the certainty of God’s judgment on the people of Israel. The people of Israel have set up idols in their hearts and have fallen into sin. This is detestable to God. And now God’s judgement will be upon them, and not even the faith and righteousness of their ancestors, (Noah, Daniel, and Job), can save the people.

Application

We can’t ride the “coat tails” of anyone else’s faith to be saved. Our faith must be our own.

I used to think when I was a little boy that I could get into Heaven because my grandparents and parents were good Christian people, respected by their peers and community. I thought that I could just get in because I was part of their family and I knew who they were. But as this chapter in Ezekiel reminds us, even the sons and daughters of righteous men like Noah, Daniel, and Job, would not be spared from God’s wrath. Those three men would be spared because of their faith and righteousness. But unfortunately, if their kids didn’t show that same faith, they would receive God’s judgment.

“As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, even if those three men were there, they wouldn’t be able to save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be made desolate.”-Ezekiel‬ ‭14‬:‭16‬

So I can’t just be saved from God’s eternal judgment just on the merits of who my parents or grandparents were. That was their own faith. They had their own personal relationship with Jesus. And thankfully their influence and guidance led me in my life to my own personal relationship with Jesus. Just like my kids can’t get into Heaven because of my faith or my wife’s faith. It has to be their own faith. They have to have their own personal relationship with Jesus. And that’s what my wife and I encourage them too. If they’re hurt, sick, or even worried about something, mommy and daddy can, and will pray for them. But they can surely go to God themselves too! Because they too know Jesus and have a relationship with Him. It’s something I pray for my family to have for generations to come. 😊

Prayer

Father God, thank You for giving my family the faith we have in Jesus. Thank You for my parents who guided me and influenced me all those years to know You and love You. Thank You for blessing me with a wife who shares the same faith that I have in You. Thank You for entrusting us with our two lovely daughters who we can help guide and influence to know and love You more each day. May we grow to be a family who loves You, and serves You all the days of our lives for generations to come. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi