The Rebellions of Israel (In the Wilderness)

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 20:1-17

 

Ezekiel 20:15-16

So I also 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. 

(NKJV)

 

Why do we learn history in School? The main answer to the question is so we do not repeat the mistakes made in the past. For Israel in the time of Ezekiel, the elders were seeking some word of encouragement from Ezekiel but instead received a history lesson of their past abominations against the Lord to remind them of why they are in their current state. My prayer is that the lukewarm, compromising, and consumerist Church of today would learn from the mistakes of Israel and return to its missional commission to spread the Gospel and make disciples.

 

During the seventh year, fifth month, and tenth day of the month, certain elders come to Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord (Ezekiel 20:1-2). The Word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel asking if they have come to inquire of the Lord with the Lord responding that He will not be inquired of by them (Ezekiel 20:3). The Lord then instructs Ezekiel to make known to them the abominations of their fathers (Ezekiel 20:4).

 

The word begins with when the Lord chose Israel as His people when they were in the land of Egypt when the Lord swore on oath that He was the Lord their God (Ezekiel 20:5). The Lord then raised His hand in an oath promising to deliver them out of the land of Egypt into a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands (Ezekiel 20:6). The Lord then instructed Israel to throw away their abominations and not to defile themselves with the idols of Egypt because the Lord is the Lord their God (Ezekiel 20:7). However, some rebelled against the Lord by not throwing away their abominations or forsaking the idols of Egypt with the Lord vowing to unleash His fury on them (Ezekiel 20:8). For His namesake, the Lord still brought Israel out of Egypt so as not to be profaned in the presence of the Gentiles (Ezekiel 20:9).

 

After leaving Egypt, the Lord brought Israel into the wilderness where He gave Israel his statutes and judgments that provide life when they are obeyed (Ezekiel 20:10-11). In addition, the Lord gave Israel His Sabbaths as a sign that He is the Lord their God who sanctifies them (Ezekiel 20:12). However, Israel rebelled again with the Lord vowing to unleash His fury on them again to destroy them in the wilderness (Ezekiel 20:13). Acting again for his namesake, the Lord did not destroy them but vowed they would wander in the wilderness and not enter the Promised Land (Ezekiel 20:14-15). Despite their rebellion in the wilderness, the Lord showed Israel mercy and did not destroy them in the wilderness (Ezekiel 20:16-17).

 

The elders came to Ezekiel to hear from the Lord about their dire situation, expecting words of encouragement and deliverance but instead receiving a history lesson about why they were in their dire situation. These elders know this history but stop at God choosing Israel as His people and do not remember the Commandment to worship only the Lord God (Exodus 20:1-3). Instead, these elders believe they deserve some special status as God’s chosen people with God required to deliver them despite their sins. Such pride is about to lead to Israel’s fall into exile (Proverbs 16:18), but not complete destruction due to God’s grace (Ezekiel 20:17).

 

The dire situation of the world and even some Churches is because of their despising God’s Word and compromising with wickedness. This is especially true for nations like the United States whose founding documents established the country on Godly principles, rejected by the nation’s current leaders in favor of compromising with and accepting evils like abortion, gay marriage, and transgenderism. The Church as the chosen bride of Christ is not exempt from God’s judgment and fury for compromising with the ungodly woke culture even if they attempt to justify it as a strategy for increasing membership and contributions by making people feel comfortable in the sin. The Church is not called to increase the number of members and contributions through compromise, but to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). Increasing Church attendance comes through lifting up Christ (John 12:32).

 

For revival to occur in the world, the Church must abandon any secular marketing strategies for growth through compromise with the world by not standing firm on the precepts of the Word of God. The Church which consists of all claiming Jesus as their Messiah must repent of its lukewarmness and compromise with the world and begin lifting up Jesus who died for everyone’s sin. If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of sins and to make Jesus your Savior, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Each of us can contribute to doubling Church attendance this weekend by taking one person who needs Jesus to church with us. May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.