They rejected Him!!!
Ezekiel 20:5-24
And say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up My hand to the seed of the house of Jacob [in solemn promise], and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up My hand to them, saying, "I am the LORD your God;" in the day that I lifted up My hand to them [and promised], to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands: then said I to them, "Cast you away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God."
But they rebelled against Me, and would not hearken to Me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said, "I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish My anger against them [or to show My inability to protect them because of their decision] in the midst of the land of Egypt [while they were still in slavery]."
But I wrought for My name's sake [I couldn’t do it], that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made Myself known to them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt. Wherefore I [eventually] caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. And I gave them My statutes, and showed them My judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.
Moreover also I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify [separates and protects] them. But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness: they walked not in My statutes, and they despised My judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and My Sabbaths they greatly polluted [even though they kept them outwardly]. Then I said [again], "I would pour out My fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them."
But I wrought for My name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I [had] brought them out.
Yet also I lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness [in a solemn statement], that I would not [could not] bring them into the land which I had given them [in the promise], flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands; because they despised My judgments, and walked not in My statutes, but polluted My Sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
Nevertheless My eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness. [They all died as a result of their sins and rebellions]. But I said to their children in the wilderness, "Walk you not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: I am the LORD your God [now]; walk in My statutes, and keep My judgments, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.
Notwithstanding the children [the next generation, also] rebelled against Me: they walked not in My statutes, neither kept My judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they [also] polluted My Sabbaths. Then I said, "I would pour out My fury upon them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness." Nevertheless I withdrew My hand, and wrought for My name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
[But] I lifted up my hand to them also in the wilderness [in another solemn promise], that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries [in the exile to Babylon]; because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, and had polluted My Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
[And so on...........!! The majority in Israel (ancient and modern) has ALWAYS refused to accept righteousness by faith and "rest" in Him, our Saviour. But as you can see, the "day of opportunity" eventually is declined permanently and it passes to another generation. Not to another group, but to the younger ones in the church.]
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