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"STUMBLING BLOCKS" FROM GOD.
(From Ezekiel 3:16-21 and 14:1-11).
THE REASONS FOR THEM.
A "stumbling
block" (NWT)
or "temptation" (Moffatt) is allowed by Jehovah to reveal the
reason for a righteous man's downfall. In fact, Jehovah indicated this when He
said of the "stumbling block": "I let that be the cause of his downfall". (Ezek 3:20 NEB).
This reveals the all-important measures Jehovah takes to save a righteous man
that to expose the error causing a righteous man's downfall, Jehovah
permits circumstances to develop to reveal it to the offender. Thereafter, only
his repentance may save him. (Rom 2:4-10
NEB).
AN EXAMPLE:
If a righteous
man behaves dishonourably, he is no longer in a position to honour and love God.
If he continues to sin wilfully after being warned, there is "no longer
any sacrifice for (his) sins left", for obedience
to the Spirit Law of God through one's baptism in our Lord Jesus Christ is
that very sacrifice for our sins. (Heb 10:22,26). If the wilful
sinning of a man takes the form of a desire for glory, to idolize others or to
be idolized by them, Jehovah may choose to allow an excess of glory and
affection to be directed toward him. This would then be "the very
stumbling block causing his error". And if the man takes "dungy
idols" "to his very heart and is bent upon the sin that trips him up"
and proceeds to consult Jehovah through a watchman of God: "I, Jehovah, I
will let Myself be brought to answer him in the matter according to the
multitude of his dungy idols, for the purpose of catching the house of Israel
by their heart". (Ezek 14:4,5 NWT & Moffatt).
In others words, even if there is "no longer any sacrifice for sins left"
for the man, he may still be used by Jehovah as a warning example to save
others. (See Ezek 3:16-21 & 14:1-11
NEB).
Consequently, a watchman of God to
the "house of Israel" who witnesses a righteous man turning to
wrongdoing must warn that man immediately. If the righteous man is warned of his
sin by a watchman of God and stops sinning, then the righteous man will without
fail keep on living because he has listened to the watchman's warning. As for
the watchman, because he gave due warning to the man: "...you yourself
will have delivered your own soul". (Ezek 3:21). The warning must be
with reproofs and must be understood. This sinning of the man must thereafter
cease, that the man who was formerly righteous may be saved.
This is applicable to what Jehovah
reveals to His watchman by Spirit as serious sin. That is why
Jehovah says concerning an unrepentant one: "For his sin he
will die, and his righteous acts that he did will not be remembered".
(Ezek 3:20).
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There are four types of
"stumbling blocks": |
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(1) |
Those of one's own making. (Matt 18:7,8. Ezek 14:4-11). |
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(2) |
Those that Jehovah allows to go to an individual. (Ezek 3:20
NEB). |
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(3) |
Those in and those sent to a "rebellious house". (Ezek 3:7-9). |
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(4) |
Those existing and those sent to a nation by Jehovah. (Ezek 14:12-23
NEB). |
It is important to note, that with
reference to those falsely claiming to be within the spiritual "land" of God but
continuing to be a "rebellious house", Jehovah makes His
watchmen mute: "...you will not become to them a man administering
reproof, because they are a rebellious house". (3:26). Such ones
must wait for the Spirit of the Lord's Judgement.
29/11/91.
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