November 9: The apple, the tree, the parent and the child...

Ezekiel 20:1-49

Hebrews 9:11-28

Psalm 107:1-43

Proverbs 27:11

The OT reading is interesting: in v13 God declares that "the people of Israel rebelled against [Him] in the wilderness.  They did not follow [His] decrees but rejected [His] laws..."  And so God turned to the children of the people of Israel, and told them "Do not follow the statutes of your parents"...admonishing them to keep His laws and decrees.  But in verse 21, we see that "the children rebelled against [God]: they did not follow [His] decrees, they were not careful to keep [His] laws."  I suppose it isn't surprising the children were disobedient - after all, what example did they have to follow?  Their parents were disobedient, and so they must have learned that there was nothing wrong with rejecting God.  The parents acted like they knew better than God...the children learned at their feet.  After all, the apple does not fall far from the tree.

Part of the tragedy here is that the children suffer consequences as a result of the example their parents set; for a parent who loves their child, and who only wants what is best for them, the realization that their actions were responsible for the consequences the child suffers is painful.  And I find myself thinking, on the eve of my youngest child's birthday, wondering what kind of tree I've been, and what example I've given my children?  And - as I am sure is the case with many parents - I find myself confronted with all those times I could have been a better parent, given a better example.

The good news is this, though: God withheld His hand.  And in the NT reading, we are reminded of our Lord who offered Himself "unblemished to God, [to] cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death".  We read that He is the "mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance - now that He has died as a ransom to set them - US! - free from the sins committed under the first covenant."  And so we can say, with relief both for ourselves and the children to whom we have been less than perfect examples, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."  We are those who "became fools through [our] rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of [our] iniquities."  But we can cry out to the Lord in our trouble, and He saves us from our distress.  

"Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart..."

Thank You, God, for Your mercy and redemption - not just from our sins, but from their consequences - to us, and to the children whom we love.