THE DREADED HOLD HAND

By Bruce Daugherty

If you have ever played the card game Hearts, you know about the dreaded hold hand.  On the first three hands, if you are dealt bad cards, you can pass off three cards to another player.  But unlike the other turns in the game, on the hold hand you must play the cards dealt to you.

Many times, we find ourselves in a world of circumstances we did not create, where we feel the pain of past actions that continue to work in the present.  Sin has consequences and sometimes the innocent suffers as result of the sins of others.  In the 1600’s slaves were brought to this country as cargo to be bought and sold.  Our country continues to wrestle with the pain of that past action.  Irish immigrants, fleeing the potato famine of the 1830’s and 40’s, found the doors of opportunity in this country closed as many businesses posted placards reading “Irish need not apply.” 

          In Ezekiel 18, exiled Jews in Babylon were dealt a bad hand.  Forcibly carried off to captivity in 597 BC they were bearing the pain of the consequences of the sins of their rulers.  However, they were quoting a proverb to describe their situation.  “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” (Ezekiel 18:2, NKJV).  The meaning was clear.  They, “the children” were bearing the punishment for the sins of “the fathers.”  It was saying God was unjust in punishing them for what their fathers had done.  It was a way of explaining their circumstances, and a convenient way to absolve themselves of any guilt in their own lives and to avoid present responsibilities.

Individual Responsibility

          Through the prophet Ezekiel, God told these exiles that this proverb would no longer be used in Israel.  The truth of individual responsibility is stated twice in the chapter.  “The soul that sins shall die.” (Eze. 18:4, 20).   Though this is stated negatively, the converse is true: “The soul that does right shall live.” (Eze. 18:9).

          As a demonstration of this need for individual responsibility, Ezekiel shared hypotheticals in three generations.  The first was a righteous grandfather.  If this man did not join in to idolatry or make a blend of true and false worship (v. 6); if he held marriage sacred (v. 6); if he valued people more than profits (v. 7-8); and if he walked in God’s statues and ordinances (v. 9), then “he is just.”

          But what if this man was father to an unjust son?  Verses 10-13 describe the actions of the unjust son.  Despite his father’s righteous deeds, the evil deeds of the son bring down judgment.  “He shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.” (Eze. 18:13).

          The next verses speak of a righteous grandson. (Eze. 18:14-18).  As this son “considers” and decides not to follow in the steps of his evil father, but instead follows the path of his righteous grandfather, because of his actions, “he shall surely live.” (Eze. 18:17).

          The exiles living in Babylon could probably relate Ezekiel’s hypotheticals to actual leaders in their recent history.  Hezekiah was a good king of Judah, though he gave in to flattery and showed the Babylonian envoys all his treasure.  (Isa. 39).  But Hezekiah’s heir was Manasseh.  His long reign was characterized by idolatry and evil.  ‘So Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.” (2 Chron. 33:9).  Manasseh then had a son, Amnon, who was so evil, his own servants killed him in a conspiracy. (2 Chron. 33:24).  But Manasseh’s grandson was Josiah, a good king.  “And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.” (2 Chron. 34:2).  There are many things we can give our children: a good name, a good home, a good example, a heritage of godly living, but we cannot pass our righteousness on to them.  “The soul who sins shall die.  The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father the guilt of the son.  The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.”  That’s good news.  I am not bound by what my parents did.  But the good news also carries individual responsibility.   I am bound by what I do.

The Call to Repent

          So, what did this mean to the exiles?  Take another look at the “grandson” who “considers” (Eze. 18:14.)  The Hebrew word here as written is literally “fears,” but following a long tradition it is read as “considers.”  These Jewish exiles needed to consider, to reflect on the situation.  The thinking person should take the warning!   If they repented, it would lead to life. (Eze. 18:23, 30, 32). 

          Unfortunately, the exiles saw no need to repent.  They might have reasoned that there would be no pragmatic benefit.   They would still be in exile.  And so, they were giving up.  They wanted to blame others. They blamed God and they blamed their enemies.  In effect, God was saying “Stop playing the victim!”  No person gets to choose the circumstances that surround his or her life.  Sometimes innocents suffer due to the sins of others, but they do not bear their guilt.  Nor are they absolved of their responsibility.  Each person must live by faith in whatever situation of life.

The exiles still had a mission.  As Gods’ chosen people, everyone had a responsibility in the Mosaic Covenant.  They were still to be a light to the Gentiles.  They needed to be holy people through whom the future Messiah would come. 

The God Who Cares

          The character of God is also revealed in this passage.  Again, it is stated negatively: “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” (Eze. 18: 23, 32).  It is stated positively in the New Testament, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9).  And the character of God is revealed at the Cross!   “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but might have everlasting life. (John 3:16).

          Sometimes life deals us a difficult hand.  Some feel this pain and continue to feel it more than others.  But we have not been asked if we like the time we live in.   We have been asked to live faithfully, whatever our circumstances.  All that matters is to live by faith in difficult times!

          Do you need to turn and live?