Israel’s Rebellion: Understanding God’s Patience in Ezekiel 20

Executive Summary ✨

Ezekiel 20 chronicles Israel’s long history of rebellion against God, particularly during their time in the wilderness. The chapter unveils a cyclical pattern: God revealing His glory and laws, Israel rejecting them in favor of idolatry, and God withholding judgment out of love for His own name. This demonstrates God’s incredible patience and forbearance. We see parallels between ancient Israel and our own lives, prompting us to examine our hearts and commit to true obedience, not just outward conformity. The chapter serves as a powerful reminder of God’s holiness, Israel’s unfaithfulness, and the enduring offer of redemption. Israel’s Rebellion, therefore, is a timeless lesson in recognizing our own tendencies toward idolatry and embracing the path of genuine repentance. The key lies in turning to Christ, who fulfills the law and offers us the grace to live a life pleasing to God. Understanding this historical account is crucial for personal and collective spiritual growth.

Ezekiel 20 is a powerful indictment of Israel’s consistent disobedience and a testament to God’s unwavering patience. It’s a chapter that resonates deeply with our own struggles and challenges us to examine the depth of our commitment to God. Let’s delve into each verse to uncover the lessons hidden within this ancient text.

Commentary Sections 📖

Ezekiel 20:1-4 – The Elders’ Inquiry and God’s Refusal

Ezekiel 20:1-4 (KJV) And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the Lord, and sat before me. 2 Then came the word of the Lord unto me, saying, 3 Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you. 4 Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

Ezekiel 20:1-4 (NKJV) It came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me. 2 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” says the Lord God, “I will not let you inquire of Me.”’ 4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then make known to them the abominations of their fathers;

The elders approach Ezekiel ostensibly seeking guidance. However, God discerns their insincerity. This echoes the words of Christ: “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8). Their past sins, the “abominations of their fathers,” disqualify them from receiving divine counsel. This highlights the importance of a repentant heart before seeking God’s guidance.

Spiritual Application: We must examine our motives when approaching God. Are we genuinely seeking His will, or merely trying to justify our desires? True repentance is a prerequisite for receiving God’s wisdom. We can find assistance with setting up a website dedicated to repentance at Dohost Website Builder.

Ezekiel 20:5-9 – God’s Choice of Israel and His Forbearance

Ezekiel 20:5-9 (KJV) And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the Lord your God; 6 In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands: 7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. 8 But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 20:5-9 (NKJV) Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day when I chose Israel and raised My hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, I raised My hand in an oath to them, saying, ‘I am the Lord your God.’ 6 On that day I raised My hand in an oath to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands. 7 Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, get rid of the abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’ 8 But they rebelled against Me and would not obey Me. They did not all cast away the abominations which were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said, ‘I will pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.’ 9 But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom they were, in whose sight I had made Myself known to them, in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

This passage recounts God’s initial revelation to Israel in Egypt and His promise of deliverance and a land flowing with milk and honey. “The glory of all lands” emphasizes the exceptional fertility and abundance of the promised land. However, even amidst this divine favor, Israel clings to Egyptian idols. God’s restraint is solely “for my name’s sake,” highlighting that His actions are primarily motivated by His own glory and reputation among the nations.

“Θεὸς γὰρ οὐκ ἀδικος ἐπιλαθέσθαι τοῦ ἔργου ὑμῶν καὶ τῆς ἀγάπης, ἧς ἐνεδείξασθε εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, διακονήσαντες τοῖς ἁγίοις καὶ διακονοῦντες.” (Hebrews 6:10) – “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” This verse from Hebrews emphasizes that even though God’s primary motivation is His own glory, He remembers and rewards those who serve Him.

Spiritual Application: God’s patience is not a license for sin. We should be mindful that His forbearance is meant to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4). We must actively cast away the “idols of our eyes” – anything that distracts us from a wholehearted devotion to God.

Ezekiel 20:10-17 – Rebellion in the Wilderness and God’s Renewed Forbearance

Ezekiel 20:10-17 (KJV) Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. 11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them. 12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. 14 But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. 15 Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands; 16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths, for their heart went after their idols. 17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

Ezekiel 20:10-17 (NKJV) Therefore I made them go forth from the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them. 12 Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them. 14 But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 Also I raised My hand in an oath to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands, 16 because they despised My judgments and did not walk in My statutes, but profaned My Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. 17 Nevertheless My eye spared them from destroying them, nor did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

God gave Israel His laws and Sabbaths as a pathway to life (“which if a man do, he shall live in them”). However, their rebellion continued in the wilderness, demonstrating that outward obedience without inward transformation is insufficient. God’s repeated forbearance is again linked to His reputation. The “Sabbaths” served as a constant reminder of God’s covenant with Israel and His power to sanctify them.

Saint Athanasius, in *De Incarnatione*, highlights that the Law was meant to lead people to recognize their need for a Savior: “Ὅταν γὰρ ὁ νόμος, διὰ τὴν παρακοὴν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἄπειστος γένηται πρὸς τὸ διορθῶσαι, καὶ ὡς ἀνίσχυρος καταφανὴς γένηται πρὸς τὴν τῶν παραβάντων σωτηρίαν, τί ἐχρῆν γενέσθαι ἢ τὴν παρουσίαν αὐτοῦ τοῦ Δημιουργοῦ;” – “For when the law, through the disobedience of men, becomes unable to correct and appears powerless for the salvation of transgressors, what was fitting to happen but the presence of the Creator himself?” (Athanasius, *De Incarnatione*, 6). This underscores that the law was a guide pointing towards the necessity of Christ.

Spiritual Application: We must not merely go through the motions of religious observance. True faith involves a transformed heart that delights in God’s law and seeks to obey it out of love. The Sabbath, now fulfilled in Christ, reminds us to rest in His grace and devote ourselves to Him.

Ezekiel 20:18-26 – Warning and Judgment on the Second Generation

Ezekiel 20:18-26 (KJV) But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: 19 I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; 20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God. 21 Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. 22 Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth. 23 I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries; 24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols. 25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live; 26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, that they may know that I am the Lord.

Ezekiel 20:18-26 (NKJV) But I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; 20 hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.” 21 Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and did not keep My judgments to do them, but they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 Nevertheless I withdrew My hand and acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also I raised My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries, 24 because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols. 25 Therefore I also gave them statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they could not live; 26 and I pronounced them unclean because of their ritual gifts, in that they caused the passing over of all who open the womb, that I might make them desolate, so that they might know that I am the Lord.”

Even the second generation, warned against repeating their fathers’ sins, fell into the same patterns of disobedience. God’s warning about not following “the statutes of your fathers” implies that tradition, if divorced from true worship, can become a stumbling block. Verse 25, “I gave them also statutes that were not good,” is a difficult passage. Some interpret this as God allowing them to follow destructive practices as a judgment, a consequence of their rejection of His true law. This is a manifestation of allowing them to suffer the natural consequences of their choices, similar to Romans 1:24-28.

Spiritual Application: Each generation must embrace God’s truth for themselves. We cannot rely on the faith of our parents or the traditions of our culture if they lead us away from genuine obedience to Christ. We must actively cultivate a personal relationship with God, rooted in Scripture and prayer.

Ezekiel 20:27-32 – Idolatry in the Promised Land

Ezekiel 20:27-32 (KJV) Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. 28 For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings. 29 Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day. 30 Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? And commit ye whoredom after their abominations? 31 For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you. 32 And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

Ezekiel 20:27-32 (NKJV) “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “In this also your fathers have blasphemed Me, by being unfaithful to Me. 28 When I brought them into the land concerning which I had raised My hand in an oath to give them, and they saw every high hill and all the thick trees, there they offered their sacrifices and provoked Me with their offerings. There they sent up their sweet aroma and poured out their drink offerings. 29 Then I said to them, ‘What is this high place to which you go?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.”’ 30 Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Are you defiling yourselves in the manner of your fathers, and committing harlotry according to their abominations? 31 For when you offer your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols, even to this day. So shall I let Myself be inquired of by you, O house of Israel?”’ 32 “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you.

Even in the promised land, the temptation to idolatry persisted. “High places” (Bamah) became centers for pagan worship, signifying the syncretism between true worship and Canaanite religious practices. Child sacrifice (“make your sons to pass through the fire”) was a particularly heinous form of idolatry, demonstrating the depth of Israel’s apostasy. God explicitly rejects their desire to assimilate to the heathen nations.

Spiritual Application: We must be vigilant against the subtle ways that idolatry can creep into our lives. Anything that takes precedence over God – wealth, relationships, success – can become an idol. We are called to be distinct from the world, not to conform to its standards.

Ezekiel 20:33-44 – God’s Promise of Restoration

Ezekiel 20:33-44 (KJV) As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: 34 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. 35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. 37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: 38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. 39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols. 40 For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. 41 I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. 42 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers. 43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled, and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. 44 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God.

Ezekiel 20:33-44 (NKJV) “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. 34 I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out. 35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you face to face. 36 Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you,” says the Lord God. 37 “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; 38 I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 39 As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord God: “Go, serve everyone his idols—and hereafter—if you will not obey Me; but profane My holy name no more with your gifts and your idols.” 40 For on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel,” says the Lord God, “there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve Me in the land; there I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. 41 I will accept you as a sweet fragrance when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles. 42 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers. 43 And there you shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed. 44 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,” says the Lord God.

Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, God promises to gather them from the nations and restore them to their land. This restoration will be accompanied by a purging of rebels and a renewed covenant. The “wilderness of the peoples” signifies a period of judgment and refinement before restoration. God’s ultimate goal is that Israel would serve Him in “mine holy mountain” and that He would be “sanctified in you before the heathen.” Verse 44 emphasizes that this restoration is ultimately for God’s “name’s sake.”

Spiritual Application: Even in our deepest failures, God offers hope for restoration. We can trust in His promises and look forward to a future where we will serve Him wholeheartedly. This promise of future glory motivates us to strive for holiness and to seek His face continually.

Ezekiel 20:45-49 – The Prophecy Against the South

Ezekiel 20:45-49 (KJV) Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field; 47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. 48 And all flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched. 49 Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

Ezekiel 20:45-49 (NKJV) Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 46 “Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest land, the South. 47 Say to the forest of the South, ‘Hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree and every dry tree; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it. 48 All flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.”’” 49 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Does he not speak parables?’”

This section shifts to a prophecy of impending judgment, symbolized by a fire consuming the “forest of the south.” This imagery represents the destruction that will come upon Judah. The “green tree” and “dry tree” suggest that both the righteous and the wicked will suffer in this judgment. Ezekiel’s despair arises from the people’s perception of his prophecies as mere parables, implying their refusal to take them seriously.

Spiritual Application: We must heed the warnings of Scripture and not dismiss them as mere metaphors. God’s judgment is real, and we must take it seriously, turning to Him in repentance and faith.

Key Reflections & Teachings ✨

From Ezekiel 20, we can glean several critical spiritual insights:

• God’s Patience Has Limits: Despite His long-suffering, God’s patience is not infinite. Continued rebellion and idolatry will eventually lead to judgment.
• Outward Observance is Not Enough: True faith requires a transformation of the heart, not just adherence to religious rituals.
• Idolatry Takes Many Forms: Anything that takes precedence over God in our lives – wealth, relationships, ambition – can become an idol.
• Tradition Can Be a Stumbling Block: We must test all traditions against the Word of God, ensuring that they lead us closer to Christ.
• God’s Restoration is Always Possible: Even in our deepest failures, God offers hope for restoration, based on His grace and mercy.
• God Acts For His Name’s Sake: Even when extending mercy, God’s actions are ultimately motivated by His glory and reputation.

FAQ ❓

Here are some frequently asked questions about Ezekiel 20:

• Q: Why did God refuse to be inquired of by the elders of Israel?

  A: The elders’ hearts were not right before God. Their past sins and lack of genuine repentance disqualified them from receiving divine counsel. This emphasizes the importance of a pure heart when seeking God’s guidance.

• Q: What does it mean that God gave Israel “statutes that were not good” (Ezekiel 20:25)?

  A: This is interpreted as God allowing Israel to suffer the consequences of their rebellion, permitting them to follow destructive practices as a judgment for rejecting His true law. It reflects God’s withdrawal of protection and guidance, letting them experience the natural outcomes of their sinful choices.

• Q: What is the significance of the “high places” (Bamah) mentioned in Ezekiel 20:29?

  A: The high places were centers for pagan worship, signifying the syncretism between true worship and Canaanite religious practices. They represent the idolatrous mixing of God’s commands with the practices of the surrounding nations, a constant temptation for Israel.

• Q: What is the “wilderness of the peoples” mentioned in Ezekiel 20:35?

  A: The “wilderness of the peoples” symbolizes a period of judgment and refinement that Israel will undergo before being restored to their land. It’s a time of sifting and purification, where God will plead with them face to face, similar to how He pleaded with their ancestors in the wilderness of Egypt. This is a pivotal aspect in understanding Israel’s Rebellion and eventual redemption.

Conclusion 💡

Ezekiel 20 is a sobering reminder of Israel’s persistent disobedience and God’s unwavering patience. The cyclical pattern of rebellion, judgment, and restoration reveals both God’s holiness and His enduring love. The chapter challenges us to examine our own hearts and to ensure that our obedience is rooted in genuine faith, not just outward conformity. Understanding Israel’s Rebellion provides us with a clearer vision of the perils of idolatry, the importance of a transformed heart, and the unwavering hope of restoration through God’s grace. The lessons in Ezekiel 20 are highly relevant in the modern world, which necessitates an objective re-evaluation of our commitment to God. By heeding the warnings of Ezekiel, we can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and embrace a life of true worship and devotion. The message is clear: God desires a relationship marked by genuine love and obedience, not merely by empty rituals and hollow professions of faith.

Tags

Ezekiel, Israel, Rebellion, Wilderness, Idolatry, Judgment, Restoration, Patience, Covenant, Prophecy

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Explore Ezekiel 20’s profound insights into Israel’s Rebellion, God’s patience, idolatry, and the promise of restoration. Learn practical spiritual applications for today.