Ezekiel

Ezekiel 20: God acts for His name

Begin in prayer

Before tracing Israel's repeated rebellion, let us give thanks for God's patient mercy. Pray that the Lord would settle our hearts, draw near to our family and show us Christ in Ezekiel 20.

yet you in your manifold mercies didn’t forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud didn’t depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither did the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go.

Nehemiah 9:19

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us understand Your holy rule and see the grace of Jesus toward people who have rebelled. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God refuses the elders' inquiry and exposes Israel's repeated rebellion in Egypt, the wilderness and the land. They rejected His statutes and profaned His Sabbaths, yet He repeatedly spared them for His name's sake. He swore to scatter them, gave statutes that were not good and polluted them in gifts involving their firstborn passing through fire. The current generation continues its fathers' idolatry, even offering sons through fire. God will rule over them, gather them for judgment and purge rebels who will not enter the land. He will accept His people's worship, and they will know Him and loathe themselves for their evils. God also announces an unquenchable fire against the southern forest that will burn every green and dry tree.

As you read Ezekiel 20, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God rules His rebellious people and acts for the honor of His name.

God rejects the elders' inquiry because their present idolatry continues the rebellion He exposes in their fathers. Repeated refusals in Egypt, the wilderness and the land make His patience striking, since He could have brought them to a full end. He repeatedly acts for His name's sake, preserving its honor before nations that saw Him bring Israel out of Egypt. The statutes' promise of life and the Sabbaths' sign of His sanctifying work make Israel's rejection a refusal of His known gifts. Their wish to serve wood and stone like the nations denies the rule of the King who says He will reign over them. Passing under His rod and into the bond of the covenant pictures His authority to gather, judge and distinguish rebels from His people. Accepted worship and restored gathering will lead them to loathe themselves for their evils. Knowing that He deals with them for His name's sake, beyond what their corrupt deeds deserve, explains the shame accompanying His mercy. The unquenchable forest fire gives a final picture of judgment that everyone will recognize as His work.

How does Ezekiel 20 show us that God rules His rebellious people and acts for the honor of His name?

God's kindness gives no excuse for rebellion.

God chose Israel in Egypt and gave statutes through which the obedient would live (verses 5 to 24). He gave Sabbaths as a sign that He is the LORD who makes them holy. Parents and children rebelled, and He swore that the parents would not enter the land. He spared the people from a full end for His name's sake. He also swore to scatter them because of their continued refusal.

God judges the pollution His people choose.

God gave statutes that were not good and polluted them in their gifts (verses 25 and 26). They offered their firstborn through fire. The present generation continues to pollute itself with idols (verses 27 to 31). God refuses its inquiry.

God will rule and make His name known.

God will gather His people under His rule and purge out the rebels (verses 32 to 44). He will cause them to pass under the rod and bring them into the bond of the covenant (verse 37). Those rebels will not enter the land. He will accept His people's worship, and they will loathe themselves for their evils. His mercy will make His name known.

Memorize

surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you.

Ezekiel 20:33

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, how am I dishonoring God, and will I ask Jesus to forgive and change me?

God will not let His people become servants of wood and stone. He says, “I will be king over you.” Their rebellion cannot remove His rule, and their history cannot hide their present guilt. They need the mercy of the Lord whose name they have profaned.

Jesus glorified His Father through the saving work He was given to do (John 17 verse 4). He bore His people's sins in His body on the cross and suffered their judgment in their place. Through that sacrifice He secured their salvation in full, sufficient to bring them to God. He rose from the grave, and now calls rebels to receive His mercy.

Turn from your idols and trust the Lord Jesus Christ. He forgives every sinner who comes to Him in faith. Please ask Him to make you ashamed of your rebellion and glad to serve Him. The King who exposes sin has provided the Savior sinners need.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Christ died and rose to save rebels who come to Him for mercy. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please explain the child sacrifices and God's severe judgment in your own words, preserving the actions He names.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for mercy that makes His holy name known, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power known.

Psalm 106:8

Father, thank You for the patient mercy You show to rebellious people. Forgive the ways we dishonor Your name, and help each one turn from sin and trust Jesus Christ. Please teach us to remember Your kindness, hear Your commands and serve You with willing hearts. Amen.