Bible Studies
A History of Apostasy and Rebellion (Ezek. 20)
Series: God Speaks to Our People In ExileIntroduction:
1. It is 591 B.C. and God is reflecting on the history of His people in Ezek. 20. It is a history of apostasy and rebellion. 2. It is not the first such reflection. Near the time of Moses’ death, in the book of Deuteronomy, he too had reflected on their history. It too was characterized by apostasy and rebellion. 3. In Psa. 106, the writer there reflects on the same history. He said, “We have sinned like our fathers. We have committed iniquity, we have behaved wickedly” (v. 6). 4. Generation after generation it was the same thing. Even though God had chosen them to be a special people for His own possession, even though He made a covenant with them separating them apart to Himself as a holy nation (1 Pet. 2:9), blessing them with lavish gifts; still they despised Himand wanting instead to be like other nations they forsook Him and joined themselves to idols. 5. Read Ezek. 20:1-8a.Discussion:
I. There are four generational periods identified in Ezek. 20 and Psa. 106.A. The generation that was in Egypt (20:5-9; 106:6-12).
B. The generation that was in the wilderness (desert) (20:10-17; 106:13-27).
C. The generation that came into Canaan (20:18-26; 106:28-33). (All of these generations are remembered in Deuteronomy.)
D. The generation that inhabited Canaan (20:27-29; 106:34-39). (Deuteronomy preceded this generation therefore it does not reflect on their apostasy and rebellion, except to predict it.)
II. Ezekiel 20 observes that the sins of the present generation are nothing more than a continuation of the sins of their ancestors.A. Each generation’s history is presented as a six-stage cycle.
1. First, the Lord made Himself known.
a. In Egypt (5-6).
b. In the wilderness (11).
c. To the generation going over into Canaan (18-19).
2. Second, He challenged them to exclusive devotion.
a. In Egypt (7).
b. In the wilderness (12).
c. The generation going into Canaan (19-20).
3. Third, they rebelled.
a. In Egypt (8).
b. In the wilderness (13).
c. The generation going over into Canaan (21).
4. The Lord was angry.
a. In Egypt (8b).
b. In the wilderness (13b).
c. The generation going over into Canaan (21b).
5. Wrath deferred for the sake of the divine name.
a. In Egypt (9).
b. In the wilderness (14).
c. The generation going over into Canaan (22).
6. Act of limited judgment (discipline).
a. In Egypt (10).
b. In the wilderness (17).
c. The generation going over into Canaan (23).
B. God reveals Himself today, and calls for exclusive devotion (2 Cor. 6:14-18; 1 Pet. 2:9).
Will we rebel like our ancestors did? These elders (20:1) had come to inquire of the Lord. The Lord’s question was, “Will you come inquire of Me while rebelling?”
III. Their idolatry was the ultimate offense—even child sacrifice.A. When they left Egypt they were to forsake the idols of Egypt, but they did not (20:7-8).
B. The Sabbaths were given as a sign between them and God that they might know that it was the Lord who sanctified them (20:12).
1. The Sabbaths were a mark of their exclusive relationship with God.
2. The Sabbaths marked their separation apart to Him.
3. The Sabbaths were a mark of their sanctification.
4. But the generation in the wilderness rebelled (13).
5. The generation going into Canaan also rebelled (19-21).
6. They even sacrificed their first born to idols (24-26).
7. Now the elders of the next generation have come to inquire of God while practicing the same idolatry as their fathers (30-32).
IV. Her rebellion provoked God to anger.A. In Egypt (8b); in the wilderness (12b); those going into Canaan (21b); those in Canaan (33ff).
B. Does God have a right to be angry?
1. He has gone out of His way to be gracious to her.
2. He delivered her from Egypt.
3. He promised her the land of Canaan.
4. He protected and cared for her in the wilderness.
5. He had brought her into the land of Canaan.
6. She had gone after other gods. If you had married a spouse, lavished them with good things, and they rejected you for someone else, over and over and over again how would you feel? Would you feel any injustice? Would you be angry?
7. And then if they came and inquired of you as if nothing had happened how would you respond?
C. This is not about individual sins. It is about rebellion! It is about their allegiance. It is about their whole course of direction. They have forsaken God for idolatry! It is evident in their actions (22:6-12). Note v. 12: “You have forgotten Me,” declares the Lord God.”
1. Today some Christians are concerned about individual sins, but seem less concerned about their overall course of direction.
2. “Well if I sin in one point I might as well embrace sin entirely.” NO! NO! NO!
3. Yes we need to be concerned about individual sins, but we need to be even more concerned about our out and out embracing of the world (32).
4. The law of God provides forgiveness for occasional sins, but abandoning the Lord is another matter. Forgiveness is a regular part of a marriage relationship for occasional violations, but abandoning one’s spouse for others is a matter of allegiance. Friendship with the world is hostility toward God (James 4:4-10).
5. We must distinguish between occasional sins and forsaking the Lord (see Num. 15:22-31).
D. God will discipline Israel and purge the rebels (20:33-38).
1. He had done this with the 40 year wilderness wandering. The rebels died in the wilderness, but Israel was not completely consumed.
2. He is now using Babylon as the instrument of discipline.
V. God will act for His good name.A. In Egypt (9); in the wilderness (14, 17); as they went into Canaan (22).
B. God will again act for His good name (39-44).
C. God’s graciousness works for the forgiveness of those who remember their deeds, who acknowledge their defilement and loathe themselves for all the evil they have done (43-44). God does not deal with them according to their evil or corrupt deeds, but through His gracious forgiveness.
D. We are this people.
1. We are forgiven.
2. We are set apart by Him and to Him.
3. We have given ourselves to Him as Lord and King.
E. We must maintain the exclusivity of our relationship with Him. We must be faithful.
1. We must be separate from the world (2 Cor. 6:14-18). “Do not be bound together with unbelievers.”
2. We must come out and be separate (1 Pet. 2:9-12).
Conclusion:
1. Daniel I. Block said, “Until and unless Christians recover a sense of the incredible privilege of being a holy people belonging to God, the objects of his gracious election, his treasured people, targets of his affection, and until they recover the missional significance of this calling, the church will remain pathetic and powerless in the face of the challenges of our age” (NIVAC, Deuteronomy, p. 222). 2. Our forefathers kept right on repeating their history of apostasy and rebellion generation after generation. 3. And we will too unless we come to a realization of what it means to be “the people of God.”
