Reflections Reading EzekielНамуна

When we read that God does something, or will do something, for ‘his name's sake’ it generally means that despite mankind’s (in this case Israel’s) habitual drift to faithlessness and apostasy, God will fulfill his design for humankind.  Our failures will not determine God’s will; this is both a sad indictment, and cause for great hope. 

Looking back over the history of the nation Ezekiel comments that even at the exodus, and despite the mighty signs and wonders, God’s people did not “forsake the idols of Egypt.”  Not only that, or more likely because of that, “They did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules.”  

So, the Lord said he acted for the sake of his own name, and his eye spared them, not destroying them in the wilderness.  

The honour and glory of God’s name is no trifling matter.  It is something we are to pray for – “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be (made holy) your name.”  We are to make his name holy by lifestyle. It is a grief to God that his people tend to blaspheme his name amongst the nations.  Nor are we exempt – church history has its stains. 

In regards to Israel, Ezekiel states that the Lord withheld his hand of judgment for the sake of his name so that his name wouldn’t be profaned in the sight of the surrounding nations.  In other words, the Lord God would not give the nation's reason to mock him because he apparently couldn’t complete the task of delivering his people from slavery and bondage.  He did it despite them. 

It has always been a matter of grace, even in what we refer to as the Old Testament era.  The people didn’t earn God’s favour; on the contrary, they did everything to deselect themselves from his grace.  Nobody has or ever will get it right, left to themselves.  “None is righteous – no not one.”  

This is surely the message of scripture – Old and New Testaments - God acts for us for the sake of his name – not ours.  “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name.”