In the seventh year, some elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh. Instead of answering their question, God told Ezekiel to declare the history of their fathers. It was a history of God's faithfulness and Israel's rebellion.

In Egypt God chose Israel and promised them a good land, but they would not throw away their idols. In the wilderness God gave them his statutes, which if a man does, he will live in them, and his Sabbaths as a sign between him and them. They rebelled there too. In the land, their children kept turning to high places and idols. Each time, God held back and acted for his name's sake, so his name would not be profaned among the nations.

Then God gave a promise. He would bring his people out of the countries and judge them face to face. He would cause them to pass under the rod, like a shepherd counting sheep, and bring them into the bond of the covenant. On his holy mountain they would serve him, and they would remember their ways and know he had not dealt with them according to their wicked ways.

Ezekiel 20 is dated to the seventh year of exile, when elders again came to inquire of Yahweh. God refused to be consulted by men holding on to idols and instead had Ezekiel judge them by reviewing their history. The account moves in four stages: Egypt, the first generation in the wilderness, the second generation, and life in the land. In each stage the pattern repeats: God gives grace, Israel rebels, God considers judgment, and God holds back for his name's sake.

Several gifts stand out. God gave his statutes and showed them his ordinances, which if a man does, he will live in them. He gave his Sabbaths as a sign, so they might know that he is Yahweh who sanctifies them. Yet the people rejected his ordinances, profaned his Sabbaths, and their heart went after their idols. God's restraint did not come from Israel's merit but from his concern that his name not be profaned in the sight of the nations.

The promise that follows is a new exodus. God would bring his people out of the countries with a mighty hand, enter into judgment with them face to face in the wilderness of the peoples, cause them to pass under the rod, and bring them into the bond of the covenant. Rebels would be purged, and on his holy mountain all Israel would serve him and be accepted like a pleasant aroma. They would loathe their former ways and know that God had dealt with them for his name's sake, not according to their wicked ways. In the New Testament, Titus 3:5 says: not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us.