God's Reputation

Ezekiel 20:1-26

(v. 9) "But for the sake of My Name, I brought them out of Egypt. I did it to keep My Name from being profaned in the eyes of the Nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed Myself to the Israelites."

(v. 14) "But for the sake of My Name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the Nations in whose sight I had brought them out."

(v. 22) "But I withheld My hand and for the sake of My Name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the Nations in whose sight I had brought them out."

Ezekiel is recounting the Hebrews' history, how God did such great and terrible miraculous deeds on their behalf, and how they still refused to esteem Him as God, but rebelled against Him and His ways. And how God relented over and over again from destroying them for all the evil and wickedness they had done. Why? For God's own reputation. He would not let their lies and deceptions besmirch His reputation among the rest of the World who witnessed His miracles.

But God did allow them to suffer the consequences of their own attitudes, acts and lifestyles:

(vs. 25-26) "So I gave them [over] to other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live; I defiled them--through their gifts [to their idols] in killing their own children in sacrifice--that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord."

God allowed them to do these disgusting and twisted things so that they would be repulsed by the consequences of their own actions and turn back to God. Only God is the God of the Universe, not any of the idols they were attracted to.

We have these stories in order to learn from them. No punches are pulled, we see God's people with all their pimples and imperfections, so that we can witness the results of both wickedness and righteousness.

God is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!