“And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them.’” (Ezekiel 20:11, NKJV)

Some of the leaders of Israel came to Ezekiel to inquire of the LORD. But God would not answer them because of the abominations of their ancestors. He told Ezekiel to bring charges against them.

The LORD brought Israel out of Egypt to give them the Promised Land. It was an exceedingly good land that God watched over. But first He entered a covenant with them at Mount Sinai where He became their God, and they became His people. This was a blessed arrangement where they would have lacked no good thing forever. But everything was contingent on them obeying His commandments. God gave them His good laws, which were life to them. If only they had kept them! But of course they didn’t keep them. Even before they left Mount Sinai, they rebelled against the LORD and worshipped a golden calf. Then God threatened to pour out His wrath upon them and make a full end of them.

“But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.” (Ezekiel 20:14, ESV)

God cared about His reputation before the nations, so He did not destroy them. Despite their many rebellions in the wilderness, He had pity on them and brought them into the Promised Land

Through the generations they continued in their rebellion, setting abominations before their eyes and defiling themselves with idols. So God gave them over to worthless laws that would not lead to life. They polluted themselves and even sacrificed their own children in the fire. Did the leaders living in Babylon turn away from these things? No, they continued in the same sins as their fathers. Therefore, God would not answer them. They wanted to be like the nations around them that worshiped idols of wood and stone, but God would not allow this to happen.

Likewise, God has set before us the path of life. It comes by loving Him and keeping His commandments. Many turn away to follow their own ways, but this only brings death, separating us from God and from others. But God is unwilling to let us go. He calls us to repentance and to abide in Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. Are we living in Him?