What does God's oath in Ezekiel 20:5 teach about His relationship with us? The Setting of the Oath Ezekiel 20:5: “This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘On the day I chose Israel, I swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and revealed Myself to them in Egypt; I raised My hand to them and said, “I am the LORD your God.”’” God Takes the Initiative • “On the day I chose Israel…”—the relationship begins with God’s sovereign choice, not human effort (cf. Deuteronomy 7:7-8). • He speaks first, acts first, and commits first; our response is always to His prior move of grace (1 John 4:19). A Covenant Sealed by God’s Own Name • “I swore… I raised My hand”—the imagery of a raised hand marks a formal, irrevocable oath (Genesis 14:22-23). • Hebrews 6:13-18 notes that when God swears, He swears by Himself, guaranteeing absolute reliability. • The oath establishes a covenant: God binds Himself to be Israel’s God, making them His people (Exodus 6:7). Personal Relationship, Not Distant Deity • “I am the LORD your God” is relational language—Yahweh belongs to His people, and they belong to Him (Jeremiah 31:33). • It stresses identity and intimacy: they are not merely subjects of a ruler but children of a Father (Hosea 11:1). Faithfulness Despite Rebellion • Ezekiel 20 recounts Israel’s repeated unfaithfulness, yet God reminds them of His original oath. • 2 Timothy 2:13: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself.” • God’s loyalty outlasts human inconsistency; His promise is rooted in His character, not our performance. Implications for Us Today • Security—our standing with God rests on His unbreakable promise, fulfilled ultimately in Christ (Luke 22:20; 2 Corinthians 1:20). • Identity—we are a “people for His own possession” (1 Peter 2:9-10), chosen and named by Him. • Obedience—because He is the LORD our God, His lordship carries authority; love expresses itself in joyful submission (John 14:15). • Hope—God kept His oath through centuries of Israel’s history and will keep every word to us; His faithfulness invites trust in every circumstance (Lamentations 3:22-23). |
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