THIS is how a Just God Can Allow It

Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is unfair." Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 

When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; 
for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness 
they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. 

Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, 
they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, "The way of the Lord is unfair." 

O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?

 - Ezekiel 18

The book of Ezekiel is full of treasures, nuggets, really, of little statements, or commentary, the wrap up the Old Testament. I have found innumerable answers to vexing questions, like for instance, when people in modern times make fun of people that live according to God's word. They say: "Then why do you eat shellfish?" "Why do you drink wine, since it is forbidden in the Old Testament?" And usually they bring this up in mockery, and have a good laugh.

The answer to that is also in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 20:25:

So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live.

Ezekiel is your place to connect the loose ends of the Old Testament. And right here, in today's readying from Chapter 18, an absolutely eloquent and biting charge from the Lord God Himself, Who by now seems quite fed up with Israel's complaints!

Is it not YOUR ways that are unfair?

Water is a destructive force as well as a life-giving element. But when it comes to the end of the wicked (which means, really all of us, for we all die), the penalty is death. Hear again what the Lord says.

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord GOD. 
Turn, then, and live.

He gave us the choice. Very simple. Just do well. Do right. Live according to the Law. Treat others better than yourself. Serve others. Build one another up. Do not gossip.

And He told us that the penalty was death. We do not get to appeal His ruling! So I would think we would take it all quite seriously! And so . . . even as the water in the spring restores life to the fields and gardens, even so does water from God, restore us. This is the way out. Water saves. And we know we need saving, because we die.

Ah but yes, David puts it so well, in the Psalms:

Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; 
remember me according to your love
and for the sake of your goodness, O LORD. (Psalm 25:6)

I love how this was inserted in - the implication that God knows we are immature, and probably can't help it.