The account of history goes back to Moses and the time when Israel was in captivity in Egypt. There is possibly some theological significance in the fact that God goes back only to Moses here, while in the New Testament Paul goes back to Abraham. Abraham was the true root of God's people (as indeed Isaiah 51:1-4 does), thus giving further "proof" that the Law was never intended to be God's means of salvation, but was their to demonstrate the need for salvation. Anyway, we will leave that aside just now.
God had searched out a land for them, and He declared to them in Egypt, through Moses, that He would save them out of slavery and into the Promised Land. However, the people had to rid themselves of the idols in their hearts, the things they had set their eyes on. The last time the elders came before Ezekiel (chapter 14) God spoke to them about the idols in their hearts. Here again He is talking about idolatry. The condition of their hearts is a key message of Ezekiel.
The people, however, refused to get rid of the idols. Now if you read the story of the Exodus and subsequent journey to the Promised Land it is amazing how reluctant the Israelites were to be saved! They were not particularly keen to come out of Egypt, and once out were forever hankering to go back, and grumbled their way to the Promised Land and then refused to go in.
This angered God, and He could have abandoned them there and then. However, "for the sake of His name" He did not. This "for the sake of My name" theme is one that will recur throughout the rest of Ezekiel. The Israelites were self-centred instead of being God-focused. We too need to ensure that we are Christ-centred.
God had searched out a land for them, and He declared to them in Egypt, through Moses, that He would save them out of slavery and into the Promised Land. However, the people had to rid themselves of the idols in their hearts, the things they had set their eyes on. The last time the elders came before Ezekiel (chapter 14) God spoke to them about the idols in their hearts. Here again He is talking about idolatry. The condition of their hearts is a key message of Ezekiel.
The people, however, refused to get rid of the idols. Now if you read the story of the Exodus and subsequent journey to the Promised Land it is amazing how reluctant the Israelites were to be saved! They were not particularly keen to come out of Egypt, and once out were forever hankering to go back, and grumbled their way to the Promised Land and then refused to go in.
This angered God, and He could have abandoned them there and then. However, "for the sake of His name" He did not. This "for the sake of My name" theme is one that will recur throughout the rest of Ezekiel. The Israelites were self-centred instead of being God-focused. We too need to ensure that we are Christ-centred.
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