God finished presenting the case against his people and the time for discussion and repentance finally passed.

“Then the word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.’” Ezekiel 20:2

It was time for judgment to be pronounced and God asked Ezekiel if he was up to the task.

“‘Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors.’” Ezekiel 20:4

The Case Against Israel

In Ezekiel 20:5-26 God recalled his history with Israel from the time he called them out of Egypt. He asked them then to get rid of the idols they had learned to worship in Egypt.

“But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt. But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt. I did it to keep my name from being profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I revealed myself to the Israelites.” Ezekiel 20:8-9

Moses Cared About God’s Reputation

Moses understood that God chose Israel as a way to display his glory to the nations. Every time God wanted to destroy the Israelites for their sins, Moses threw himself facedown on the ground and reminded God that the nations were watching. They would mock God if he destroyed the people he had chosen for himself.

When Aaron constructed the golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai, and the Israelites danced like pagans around it, God was ready to bring an end to them.

But Moses intervened.

“‘I have seen these people, ‘ the Lord said to Moses, ‘and they are stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. The I will make you into a great nation.

“But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. ‘O Lord,’ he said, ‘why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people.’” Exodus 32:9-12

God had a right to end his relationship with Israel when they repeatedly violated their covenant with him, but he relented over and over for the sake of his own name.

Corrupted Worship

The Israelites broke God’s laws, desecrated his Sabbaths, and twisted his decrees to serve their own purposes. They even went as far as sacrificing their children as if God had asked it of them.

“So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live; I defiled them through their gifts – the sacrifice of every firstborn – that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 20:25-26

The people made a show of obedience to God, while simultaneously practicing idolatry. The very gifts and sacrifices the people brought to the temple were defiled and they made God’s laws appear evil.

In Exodus 13:2 the Lord asked them to dedicate every firstborn child to him, but he never asked them to offer children as burnt sacrifices. The pagan god Molech was the one who demanded child sacrifice. God was horrified by what his people did when they twisted his righteous laws to accommodate the demands of false gods.

That was the breaking point for the Lord. He didn’t unleash his wrath when Israel broke his laws and desecrated his Sabbaths, but he could not tolerate the death innocents as part of the worship of any god. God separated himself from his people at that point.

“Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images? When you offer your gifts – the sacrifice of your children in the fire – you continue to defile yourselves with your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, you Israelites? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will not let you inquire of me.” Ezekiel 20:30-31

Know That I Am the Lord

God protected Israel throughout its history, even as he reprimanded and disciplined them. He knew the other nations saw the extraordinary grace he extended to his people and he hoped that would make them want to be his people, too.

When the people of Israel strayed the Lord called them back to him. When they were sorry for their sins, he forgave them. But when they hardened their hearts and lived in detestable ways, refusing to repent, God showed them his wrath.

“I will surely strike my hands together at the unjust gain you have made and the blood you have shed in your midst. Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the day I deal with you? I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it. I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you throughout the countries; and I will put an end to your uncleanness. When you have been defiled in the eyes of the nations, you will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 22:13-16

The Time Came

“Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors.” Ezekiel 20:4

After showing the world through Israel what his grace, provision, and love looked like, God now showed the world what his wrath looked like. Israel was punished and the world would saw the consequences of sin.

The Apostle Paul meditated on Israel’s experiences with God and he concluded,

“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were . . . [do] not commit sexual immorality as some of them did . . . [do] not test the Lord, as some of them did . . . And do not grumble, as some of them did – and were killed by the destroying angel  . . . These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us.” 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

There are two ways to know that the Lord punishes for sin: We can read about it in the Bible and take warning, or, like the ancient Israelites, we can experience his wrath first-hand. Either way, the God is the Sovereign Lord and his plans will be accomplished.