Setting their teeth on edge

Funny old world isn’t it? As the French say “Tout c’est change; rien c’est change” which literally translated means that everything changes but nothing changes. The Word of God puts it another way in Ecclesiastes 1:9 “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”

So when a friend quoted this next scripture to me, I had to stop and think

Ezekiel 18:1-4
"The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: "

'The fathers 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 every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me.”

Then the Lord spoke – quietly but firmly. “You are robbing Me of My harvest with your ‘sour grapes.’ ” Intrigued, I asked Him for more. He said, “When you continually grumble, you turn your children from Me. You meet together to praise Me and worship Me – then you go back home and grumble. Your children hear all of this and they turn from Me because of your grumbling.”

Knowing myself to be guilty too, I asked the Lord if I/we have always grumbled so much and how many of our precious children we have turned away from His Kingdom. He told me that we have always done it and the numbers are almost incalculable.

How many of us can, hand on heart, say they have never grumbled in front of our children? How many of us can say that we have not sown doubt and even disbelief into our children and grandchildren? Of course, we can always say that our grumbling may not have turned the hearts and minds of our children – but what a terrible thing we may have done.

As I thought about this, feeling rather glum and guilty, the Lord brought another couple of scriptures to mind. This is where the Lord is so good to us – His mercy and forgiveness are so sure and reliable – much more so than us !!

Romans 8:28
[ More Than Conquerors ] “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Ah this feels better. Yes we do know that God works for our good in everything

2 Corinthians 9:8
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

What an astonishing thing Grace is ! Grace abounding in us. In all things at all times, having all that you need. Having ALL we need. If we know these things why do we grumble?

Ephesians 5:20
“ ... always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ah – here’s the crux of it all. ALWAYS giving thanks – always, always, always thanking God in ALL things. Not grumbling but giving thanks in all situations, for everything, because Gods Grace and Mercy abound in us.

What a wonderful God we serve. Can we perhaps try to give Him thanks in everything? Can we try to grumble less or even not at all? After all, none of us want to see our children away from the Lord but that is exactly what all this ‘eating sour grapes’ does. It ‘sets our children’s teeth on edge’ and maybe it turns them away from God – perhaps for ever.

Lord forgive our complacency and our grumbling. Help us to give You praise and thanks in all things. Let us glorify You instead of grumbling about You. Turn our hearts back to your Word, Lord, and let us take it literally and be “ ... always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

AMEN ?