Ezekiel 20 gives an overview of Israel's constant historical rebellion against God. Initially some elders came to consult Ezekiel but God forbid this. Then God reminds Israel how he brought them out of Egypt yet "they rebelled against me and would not listen to me... and they would not forsake the idols of Egypt". God however gave them the law and taught them to worship his alone, but they ignored the law: "They rejected my laws and utterly desecrated my sabbaths". Eventually God punished that generation by not allowing them to enter the promised land: "Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel". Then God said to the people: "Do not follow the statutes of your fathers... or defile yourselves with their idols... but keep the sabbath, reject idols and obey the law". Despite this the following generation also rebelled against the Lord! Even after entering the promised land they rebelled "sacrificing their sons in the fire... defiling themselves with idols... and worshipping in the high places". God then says "I will rule over you with a mighty hand.... I will bring you from the nations... and eventually I will judge you and bring you into the bond of the covenant... there on the holy mountain the entire house of Israel will serve me". The chapter ends with a prophecy of consuming fire on the southern forest (Israel) by the flames of Babylon.
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