Ezekiel 18 - 20

God defends His actions against the nation of Israel.  Many were claiming that His punishment was too late; that he should have punished the original transgressors and not their children.  God's position is clear:  the sons have committed just as many sins as their fathers.  In His mercy, He has allowed them the opportunity to change their ways, but they have not.  They are as much to blame as those who first sinned.  In fact, when they came to seek the Lord's wisdom, He would not readily give an answer.  They were more in love with what He provided than they were in Him!  They had made God into a talisman, a charm to be used at their disposal and discretion instead of placing themselves in His control.  In spite of their treatment of Him, He would restore those who returned to Him.  What a merciful God!