Eating sour grapes

At a time when a man's survival depended on the support of a community, the prevalent morality would be very different from that found nowadays. The morality today leans very much towards individualism. With the advance of technology, man is less and less dependent on the neighbourhood in which he lives. He even doesn't have to go out of his flat or cubicle in order to satisfy his basic needs. Man becomes more and more egocentric and turns more inwards. He prizes privacy, freedom and human rights more than anything else. Obligation is unheard of. Patriotism? It depends.
There was a Jewish proverb which two prophets attacks. The offending proverb is this.
The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge (Jeremiah 31:29; Ezekiel 18:2)
First of all, the bond between parents and children is recognized. Secondly, parents and children share the same consequences of actions of previous generations. This proverb is a true reflection of the kind of morality prevalent in an agricultural society. The consequences of an action by any individual bear on everybody. A good action benefits all. An evil action harms all likewise. The two prophets and their God thought otherwise. The voice of individualism was raised. The consequences of any action fall squarely on the individual.
God, speaking through Ezekiel, proclaims His will.
Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:4).
God makes it clear that the soul that sins shall die. This is justice in the plainest form. Don't ever think that an evil son can hide under the beneficial wings of a good father. Nor shall a good son fear being entangled by the deeds of an evil father. No. God is just. Everybody is held accountable for his own actions.
Ezekiel developed his arguments in two steps. He began with an intergenerational situation. A righteous man begets an evil son who in turns begets a righteous grandson. The verdict is that the man shall surely live (Ezekiel 18:9), while the son shall surely die (Ezekiel 18:13). As for the grandson, he shall not die for his father's iniquity and he shall live just as his grandfather should (Ezekiel 18:17).
Conclusion:
The soul that sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself (Ezekiel 18:20).
Then, Ezekiel completed his argument with an intragenerational situation.
But if a wicked man turns away from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness which he has done he shall live (Ezekiel 18:21-22).
When situation changes, man changes to adapt. In ancient times, changes were slow and a man did not have the need to change his established life rapidly. Alas! It is no longer true anymore. Nowadays, man is caught in a rapidly changing society. What is workable today may no longer works tomorrow. Man needs to catch up in order to stay ahead. God wants to see us change, for the better.
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (Ezekiel 18:23)
Then Ezekiel turned to the righteous man and warned him.
When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die for it; for the iniquity which he has committed he shall die.
Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is lawful and right, he shall save his life.
Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die (Ezekiel 18:26-28).
God cares more about the wicked. He speaks, through Ezekiel, twice of the wicked and wishes that they change for the better. In this season of Lent, let's keep away from sins and turn to God.

Merciful God, I have sinned but You don't want to see me die. Allow me to turn back to You and live. Amen.