This is a difficult question, given the Political correctness ideas, teachings of the SAGES, the ideas from our own hearts, such as: I am not accountable for my words and actions. We simply make rules(laws and rulings) so difficult the the GOD’s LAW can not be used. . . .
–I do not like taking a verse of a piece of a verse to create a story or to sell a particular point of view, below I use one verse to make a point, and encourage you to read all of the Joseph Story to gain full understanding of all of the points and lessons to be learned there. The Joseph Story includes Genesis 37 through 50.–
It is even more difficult when in Torah study, Genesis 42:22 And Reuben answered them, saying: ‘Spoke I not unto you, saying: Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore also, behold, his blood is required.’ (The child referred to here is Joseph, the incident is when the brothers decided to kill Joseph.) This verse I used to show that Reuben and his brothers, 20 years earlier did something that they now remember could be the source of their current troubles. Note everyone is judged according to their choices, not anyone else’s.
This is the JPS1917 translation of the Tanakh, the word ‘mind’ לִבָּם, Google translates ‘heart’. You can read it either way, although I prefer ‘mind’ as the thinking item, but you can choose, it means the same –your thoughts.
Ezekiel 14:3 ‘Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their mind, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face; should I be inquired of, at all, by them? 4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his mind, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet–I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; 5 that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all turned away from Me through their idols.
21 For thus saith the Lord GOD: How much more when I send My four sore judgments against Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the evil beasts, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast. 22 And, behold, though there be left a remnant therein that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters; behold, when they come forth unto you, and ye see their way and their doings, then ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it; 23 and they shall comfort you, when ye see their way and their doings, and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.’
Please read the complete chapter. It took me five times in a row reading, to understand history, prophecy and personal observation and interaction to see the truth of this.
We are told by THE LORD at the hand of Moses of these events and what GOD is going to do, because of what we DO, these text are in Leviticus 26, and Deuteronomy 28 – 32.
Just like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, we refuse to accept responsibility for our actions and only blame somebody else continually. Why should the Judgment change it I am unwilling to Return. The Last Judgment is near. Will you not return to the ONE, LIVING GOD OF ISRAEL.
Return to the HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.