Read: Ezekiel 18-19
There had been a saying in the land that if the fathers eat sour grapes then the children’s teeth were set on edge. They were blaming Manasseh for their calamity instead of searching their own hearts and seeing their own sin. God was not punishing them for something done in the past but for their continuance of that sin. Every man is judged for his own sin, not the sin of their father or mother. Everyone has a chance to choose for themselves which path they will choose. God was not allowing them to use this excuse anymore.
The answer to getting back into God’s favor was simple. They just had to turn from their life of sin and follow God’s laws. Then God would give them a new heart and a new spirit. It is still the same today.
In Chapter 19 the mother was the mother of Jehoiachin who stood for the progenator of David’s line. Her “whelp” was Jehoiachin or Jehoahaz (his given name) who was taken captive to Egypt. The next “whelp” was Jehoiakim, brother of Jehoahaz, who was placed on the throne by Pharaoh (2Ki 23:34). He was eventually taken to Babylon.
Both of these leaders were wicked and taught the people wickedness. In verse 10 it goes back to the infancy of Israel, the vine, and her life was pictured as a vine who was once fruitful but had dried up. She has now been planted in the wilderness where she has lost her influence and power in the world.
Lord, let us not be like this vine. Let us be fruitful in the land you have planted us in. May we take responsibility for our own sins.
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