106
Certain of the elders of Israel seek out Ezekiel that he might contact the Lord on their behalf and subsequently instruct them in the ways of the Lord. The date of this meeting has some very interesting numbers. Eze. 20:1 It took place in the seventh year of captivity. The number seven is used to convey a message of completion, the full complement of a thing or action. In Ezekielís prophetic utterance during their visit with him, the Lord spoke to them showing both the fullness of His disgust and dislike of their attitudes and actions, plus His plans for the future, or the end of the age. The number five is the number of atonement. All the work of the Lord toward mankind is based on atonement by blood, the blood of His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus. The number ten is that which relates to the commandments which Israel completely disrespected and disregarded, as is so completely communicated in the words of the Lord to Ezekiel. Eze. 20:2
The Lord is not required to hear the plea of those who sin against Him. Eze. 20:3 Their spiritual attitude had so thoroughly disgusted Him that His ears were closed to their request. Rest assured, that the Lord will turn a deaf ear to those who know better and deliberately sin. Ps. 66:18 As a judge relates the wrong doings of a criminal standing before him at the time of sentencing, so the Lord called upon His prophet to act as a judge and relate the strong emotion of anger against Israel for all their abominations. Eze. 20:4 This is accomplished by the relating of five events where the Lord stretched forth His hand to deliver Israel and help them, only to find that they would violate His honor and His name by their idol worship.
The actions of the Lord, in delivering the children of Israel from Egypt, was based upon the authority of His name. He strongly declared to them that He was the LORD (Jehovah) their God (Elohim, plural of Eloah. Thus revealing the trinity through His name). The Lord lifted up His hand and vowed, making a covenant promise, that He would take them into a home land of their very own. He described the land as the most beautiful and wonderful of all lands. A place flowing with milk and honey. An exceeding fruitful land abounding in all the necessities of life. Eze. 20:5 Would they but keep the Word, the statutes of the Lord, every year there would have been super abundant crops throughout the land. Every sixth year, they would have received a double crop making the seventh year a Sabbatical year wherein they would not have to plant, cultivate or reap their crops. Then every 49th year they would have received a crop so large that it would feed them for the fiftieth year and the next year until the new crops came in. Lev. 25 They had it made but blew it. They rebelled against the Lord.