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Israel’s Rebellion in Egypt
Ezekiel 20:1–9 records elders coming to ask Yahweh for guidance, but the Lord answers by exposing Israel’s earlier rebellion in Egypt. The passage explains why their inquiry is refused and what God wanted them to remember.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
The passage begins when some elders of Israel sit before Ezekiel to inquire of Yahweh. Instead of answering their request directly, Yahweh tells Ezekiel to confront them with the abominations of their fathers, especially Israel’s rebellion and idolatry in Egypt. The focus stays on God’s words of accusation, command and purpose.
Ezekiel 20:1–9Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh had chosen Israel and made himself known to them, yet they rebelled, and he acted for the sake of his own name among the nations.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The elders come, but Yahweh refuses their inquirySome elders of Israel come and sit before Ezekiel to inquire of Yahweh. The Lord then speaks and rejects their attempt to seek him.
Explanation
Some elders of Israel come and sit before Ezekiel to inquire of Yahweh. The Lord then speaks and rejects their attempt to seek him. Instead of giving the answer they seem to want, Yahweh challenges Ezekiel to judge them by making known the abominations of their fathers.
02Yahweh chose Israel and made himself knownYahweh reminds them of the day he chose Israel and swore to the offspring of Jacob. In Egypt he made himself known and declared, “I am Yahweh your God.”
Explanation
Yahweh reminds them of the day he chose Israel and swore to the offspring of Jacob. In Egypt he made himself known and declared, “I am Yahweh your God.” He also swore to bring them out into a good land, described as flowing with milk and honey and as the glory of all lands.
03Israel was told to reject Egypt’s idolsGod’s command in Egypt was personal and direct: each person was to throw away the abominations that attracted their eyes and stop being defiled by Egypt’s idols.
Explanation
God’s command in Egypt was personal and direct: each person was to throw away the abominations that attracted their eyes and stop being defiled by Egypt’s idols. The line “I am Yahweh your God” explains why this command mattered. Their loyalty was to Yahweh, not to the idols around them.
04They rebelled, yet Yahweh acted for his name’s sakeThe people rebelled and would not listen. They did not throw away those abominations or forsake Egypt’s idols, so God said he would pour out his wrath on them in Egypt.
Explanation
The people rebelled and would not listen. They did not throw away those abominations or forsake Egypt’s idols, so God said he would pour out his wrath on them in Egypt. Yet he acted for his name’s sake, so that it would not be profaned before the nations who had seen him make himself known.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Yahweh refuse to be inquired of by the elders in this passage?
Look at how the passage moves from their inquiry to God’s command to expose the abominations of their fathers and their rebellion in Egypt.
02What had Yahweh already done for Israel before speaking about their rebellion?
List the actions in the passage: he chose Israel, swore to Jacob’s offspring, made himself known in Egypt and promised to bring them into a good land.
03What reason does Yahweh give for acting even after Israel rebelled?
Notice the specific phrase explaining his purpose and who was watching when he brought them out of Egypt.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 20:1–9
1In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh, and sat before me.
2Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “I will not be inquired of by you.” ’
4“Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.
5Tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, ‘I am Yahweh your God;’
6in that day I swore to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
7I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.’
8“ ‘ “But they rebelled against me and wouldn’t listen to me. They didn’t all throw away the abominations of their eyes. They also didn’t forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt.
9But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.