The elders of Israel come to Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord. Instead of answering them, Ezekiel retells their story and points out Israel’s rebellion in contrast to God’s mercy.
– When He brought them out of Egypt, “they rebelled against Me and would not obey Me…nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.”
– In the wilderness the Lord gave them the law and the Sabbath yet “they did not walk in My statues; they despised My judgements…they greatly defiled My Sabbath.”
As a result, the Lord turned them over to themselves and “to statues that were not good, and judgments by which they could not live” with their pagan worship and practices.
God tells the elders that they have been unfaithful, just like their fathers, but the Lord will restore them one day and it won’t be because of anything they have done. He will restore them bc of His mercy and grace and His name’s sake. “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.”
Ezekiel once again warns Israel that judgment from Babylon is coming and will impact everyone, both the righteous and the wicked. We live in a broken, fallen world where the righteous are impacted by the actions of the wicked but the difference is that the righteous will only have temporary suffering in the hope of eternity with the Lord.
Tomorrow, Babylon invades Jerusalem so keep reading.
(Ezekiel 20:1-22:16)
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Chronological Bible in Layman's Terms 