Sour Grapes and Iron

 2 “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:

“‘The parents eat sour grapes,
    and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

Oftentimes when people talk about so-called "generational curses" they quote similar verses to this as well as a verse from Lamentations and Exodus which seem to agree with this idea. I don't agree with this in the sense that all of our sin was passed down and we're all bound to succumb to it though. I believe that what one consumes is not just consumed by themselves but it affects those around them. If a parent frequently consumes entertainment with foul language or pornography or alcohol and drugs it affects those they're around most. Notice the proverb doesn't say that if the father eats sour grapes the child eats sour grapes. It merely conveys the idea that it's effects are felt by the children. I can be an alcoholic and drug addict and affect my family and friends even if they never take a sip of alcohol. Their teeth are set on edge without directly taking a bite. There have been times in my life that my personal sins have affected everyone I have encountered not just family. I've also been affected by the sins of others. I don't think that Ezekiel and God had a problem with this idea in and of itself but the fact that it was used as an excuse. I believe in genetics and upbringing do affect a person that I'm more prone to certain defects or cancers or ailments because of these but I don't believe they define me. I have seen too many times someone who's entire family was bound by addiction and either get sober or never take a drink. At the time of this writing this for  the first ever a person with Down's Syndrome has successfully completed the Iron Man challenge. One can be predisposed to things yet still overcome them. When I eat sour grapes and blame it on the sins of my father I can't help but see how many things I've neen able to overcome through Christ that are considered genetic such as addiction. Another problem with this proverb is that it's not complete. A sour grape is simply unripe. Some things we see as burdens simply have not been cultivated enough or used for the right purpose. I once thought that being on the autism spectrum was an ailment. A defect. As I grow in Christ, though, I see that if I was neurotypical I would be unable to do the things God has called me to do. Some people set back by their genetics shine brighter to the world when they overcome their limitations or use them as strengths as opposed to allowing their sour taste to see their potential sweetness. I'm reminded of the man Jesus healed in front of the Pharisees when they asked who's sin caused his ailment. His or his parents. Jesus repies it was neither and shows that his ailment was simply there to make Jesus healing of it all the more powerful. After all if Jesus can heal a genetic or medical abnormality he truly must be the Master of creation. When I hear people talk about how they or their family members are bound by some unbreakable generational curse I see through it. I suppose my life in the midst of all kinds of chaos and sin has shown me there's nothing unbreakable we just can't break it alone. God uses others to help us see things we can't whether through learned professionals, kindred spirits, or books written by wiser men than us. The problem is that God in his infallable wisdom has chosen to use fallable men.  In the book of Proverbs it says 

"As iron sharpens iron,

    so one person sharpens another."

I've always read this as most people do that if you're around the right people you become more effective better equipped. If I'm around people that are positive I'll be positive. I've seen this interpreted another way, though, and both I've seen are equally true. One interpretation is that as iron sharpens iron it strips away parts of the other. In other words men can tear eachother down. Misery loves company. If one is around those that say your problems are permanent you'll never suspect they can be overcome. When people say things like "that's only natural" or "you're only human" it's easy to see the flesh as inconquerable. If you read the book of Romans and see Paul demanding we don't succumb to it we feel helpless. This is what Christ calls us to but we've been told it's impossible. It's true while God remembers we are dust he also knows it's full of His breath. He knows that the same Power that rose Jesus from the grave can raise us above the power of our flesh. He remembers we are dust but He also remembers he never meant to leave us that way.