For the most part, the story of Israel is the story of Israel’s dismal failure as God’s representatives, and God’s amazing patience and faithfulness to them, and His plan. God created and established Israel. God made a promise to Israel that they would be His people, His representatives. And God kept that promise; not for the sake of Israel, their worthiness or their glory, but for the glory of His name and the spread of His fame. Israel failed miserably. But God remained faithful to His promise for His name’s sake, His glory. Israel’s failure could not thwart God’s plan for the demonstration of His glory.
When Israel failed, the script was not being unraveled. The plot was not taking an unexpected twist. This was actually in the script all the time. God declared very early in Israel’s history that they would fail and He would restore them (Deuteronomy 28-30).
When Israel disobeyed, became corrupt and failed to demonstrate the glory of God through their lives and declare the glory of God through their witness, God disciplined them. But God never forsook them. He continued to work in them. He changed their hearts. He brought them to repentance. And He restored them over and over again. He acted for His glory, for His fame. Through it all, He put His glory on display for the world to see.
"For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, And for My praise I restrain it for you, In order not to cut you off." (Isaiah 48:9 NAU)
"But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. . . . 14"But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, before whose sight I had brought them out. . . . 22"But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out." . . . 44"Then you will know that I am the LORD when I have dealt with you for My name's sake, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel," declares the Lord GOD.'" (Ezekiel 20:9, 14, 22, 44 NAU)
"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. "I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD," declares the Lord GOD, "when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. "For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. (Ezekiel 36:22-27 NAU)
God promised Israel that despite their failure and rebellion, He would act in them to change their hearts. God wasn’t waiting for them to have a change of heart so he could continue on with His plan. He said, "I will do it. I will change your heart. You have a heart of stone, cold, lifeless, hardened against me, but I’m going to give you a heart transplant. And after I change your heart, you will repent and return to Me. I will cause you to obey."
The display of the glory of God was not, and is not dependant on man. It was and is dependant on God and God alone. God always acts for His Name’s sake. He declares, "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth (Psalm 46:10)" and no one will stop what He has decreed. He will be exalted. He will have His worshipers. God’s story of His glory is dependant on Him and Him alone.
Soli Deo Gloria
Next: Then They Will Know
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