Ezekiel 20:5 - Meaning and Application

The history of Israel’s ingratitude and rebellion begins at the very start of their national life. In that way, it matches the sad story of all humanity’s turning away from its Maker. As soon as we read about our first parents being created, we also read about their rebellion. In the same way, Israel, a people meant to represent mankind in their dealings with God, showed this pattern from the beginning.

Here is God’s gracious purpose for Israel while they were in Egypt, where they were slaves to Pharaoh. Let it be spoken, and written, to the lasting honor of free grace, God chose Israel to be a people belonging to himself, even though their condition was bad and their character was worse. He chose them from the family line of Jacob, the man who wrestled with God, so that he could keep the oath he had sworn to their fathers (Deuteronomy 7:7, 8). He also made himself known to them by his name Jehovah, a new name for them (Exodus 6:3), when they had almost lost the knowledge of him under slavery.

This shows that the first step toward our blessing is God making himself known to us. No matter how far away we are, or how much trouble we are in, the God who made himself known to Israel in Egypt can still find us and show us his favor. He also gave himself to them as their God in covenant, that is, in a solemn promise relationship. He lifted up his hand and swore to them, saying, “I am the Lord your God,” meaning that they must honor him and look to him for their good. He promised to bring them out of Egypt, and he kept that promise. He stretched out his hand, or showed his mighty power, to deliver them with an outstretched arm (Psalm 136:12). He also promised to bring them into the land of Canaan, which he had chosen for them, a land like a second Eden, the glory of all lands.

He found it a good land because of its climate, fertile soil, pleasant setting, and overall beauty (Deuteronomy 8:7, 11:12). But more than that, he made it glorious by setting up his sanctuary there, his holy place among them.

God also gave them fair commands and easy terms for his covenant with them at that time. After telling them what they could expect from him, he told them what he expected from them, and it was no more than this: “Each man must throw away the idols he worships, and stop defiling himself with the idols of Egypt” (Ezekiel 20:7). Many of them were attached to these idols, and the golden calf later proved that. It was only right that people delivered from Egyptian slavery should also leave Egyptian idolatry behind, especially after God had judged the gods of Egypt and shown his power over them (Numbers 33:4).

You would think they would also have felt a deep hatred for Egypt’s gods, since Egypt had been a house of bondage for them. Yet they still needed this warning. God backed it with a strong reason: “I am the Lord your God,” meaning, “I need no helper, and I will not allow a rival.”

But they disobeyed in a way that was unreasonable and shameful. They rebelled against God, not only by refusing his commands, but by throwing off their loyalty to him altogether. In effect, they acted as if they were free to worship whatever god they wanted. Even when God came down to rescue them and sent Moses for that purpose, they still would not give up the idols of Egypt. That may help explain why they later spoke so warmly of the onions of Egypt (Numbers 11:5), because the Egyptians worshiped an onion among other things.

It is amazing that all the plagues of Egypt did not cure them of their love for Egypt’s idols. Because of this, God said he would pour out his wrath on them even while they were still in Egypt. He would have been fully just to say, “Let them die with the Egyptians.” This makes God’s goodness shine even more brightly. He was willing to work such a great salvation for them, even though he saw they were ready for ruin. Moses was right to tell them, “It is not because of your righteousness” (Deuteronomy 9:4, 5).

Yet God still delivered them in a wonderful way. They had already ruined their chance of favor while it was being offered, and when God would have healed them, their sin showed itself more clearly (Hosea 7:1). Still, mercy triumphed over judgment, and God acted for his own name’s sake (Ezekiel 20:9). When there was nothing in us to give him a reason to bless us, he found the reason in himself. He made himself known to them before the nations when he told Moses to speak openly to Pharaoh and say, “Israel is my son, my firstborn, let them go, so they may serve me.”

If God had let them perish for their wickedness, the Egyptians would have blamed him for it. His name would have been dishonored, and that must never happen. God’s name is to be made holy, and it will be. His people may be corrupt, but the church is still safe, because God will guard his own honor.