Sometimes we get caught in the idea that if ’good’ things are happening to me, God must be blessing my walk. But when we examine the book of Ezekiel, we find God’s ’goodness’ isn’t for the people’s sake at all. In fact, in the Israelites rebellion, God was still restoring for HIS namesake.

In Ezekiel 36:16 is where we find God’s concern for His name. Israel’s restoration would be more than physical. God promised, I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. This cleansing will be followed by the impartation of new life. God will give the converted nation a new heart and a new spirit. In place of a heart of stone He will give Israel a heart of flesh. With God’s spirit indwelling them, they will be motivated to obey His decrees and laws.

God’s restoration will not simply be an undoing of Israel’s sin to bring her to a state of neutrality. Rather it will involve the positive implanting of a new nature in Israel’s people that will make them righteous. Jeremiah called this work of God the “new covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31). Implanting God’s Spirit in believing the Israelites will produce a new relationship between Israel and her God: You will be My people, and I will be your God. God will extend all His graciousness to His people.

Being delivered from their sin, they will experience the bountiful provision of the land including grain, fruit and crops without famine (34:29). When Israel reflects on God’s grace and her former character (her evil ways and wicked deeds), she will realize she does not deserve His favor. In fact, she will loathe herself because of her detestable practices, looking back in horror at them. The blackness of her past actions will contrast starkly with the light of God’s grace.

In the future, when Israel recalls her past actions, she would recognize that God had not saved her because of her merit. God was not doing this for her sake, but to magnify His own name. When Israel is restored and the land cultivated, people would note that this wasteland was like the Garden of Eden (v. 35). That’s amazing to think of right there! That God would take the waste they created and make it so pure again. Israel’s cities, formerly in ruins, would be fortified and inhabited. To the surrounding nations Israel would become an object lesson of God’s grace.

The people would be forced to acknowledge God’s sovereign power in restoring His people: “Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.”

God also caused the nation to increase numerically, which was considered a sign of God’s blessing. When we look back at at all the mess we’ve left behind, its important not to consider God’s restoration and blessings today as a sign that we must be doing something right. The Almighty, Creator and Sustainer will not let His name be defiled by His people and will restore His namesake.

We, as believers, have a responsibility to God if we say His glory is our ultimate purpose. Our wicked ways and innocent intentions can tear down the name of Christ if we don’t remain mindful of those looking upon us… looking to us as an example of the Jesus we proclaim as our King. In the midst of our ways, we must not mistake God’s hand of restoration as a blessing for our walk, but rather a redemption to His name for His sake.