Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Men for at navnet Mitt ikke skulle bli gjort skam på – folkene rundt hadde jo sett at Jeg hadde ført dette folket ut av Egypt – så sa Jeg at Jeg ville spre dem blant folkeslagene og strø dem utover i landene. Dette skulle skje fordi de ikke lever etter Mine lover eller brydde seg om hva som er Min vilje og plan for dem. De ba fortsatt til avguder. Derfor lot Jeg dem bare følge sine onde lover. De skulle få se at det ikke førte noe godt med seg. De syndet stort mot meg, ja de ofret sine egne barn i offerflammene til avgudene. De skulle bli forskrekket over hvor ille de kunne bli. Så skulle de forstå at Jeg er Herren med de gode lovene.
What Does This Mean?
In this verse, God says that He held back from punishing the Israelites because He wanted to protect His reputation among other nations. He brought them out of Egypt to show His power, so He did not want to ruin that impression by destroying them.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're playing a game with your friends and you're about to win, but you see that one of your friends is having a really hard time. Instead of winning, you decide to help them out, so your friends think you're a really good sport. That's kind of what God did here. He helped the Israelites so that others would see how good He is.
Historical Background
This verse is from the Book of Ezekiel, written around 593-571 BC by the prophet Ezekiel. It was meant for the Israelites who were in exile in Babylon. The cultural setting was one of hardship and questioning of God's presence and promises.
Living It Out Today
Today, this verse can remind us that God sometimes holds back His judgment out of compassion. In a modern scenario, if you're dealing with a difficult person or situation, remember that God's patience and grace can be a model for how you interact with others.
What does it mean that God worked 'for my name's sake'?
It means that God acted to protect His reputation and the way others perceive Him. He wanted other nations to see that He is powerful and just, but also compassionate.
How does this verse relate to the Exodus?
This verse is a continuation of the story of the Exodus, where God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt to show His power. He didn't want to ruin this impression by destroying them.
What can we learn about God's patience from this verse?
We can learn that God is patient and willing to give people chances, even when they have made mistakes. He is more concerned with preserving His reputation and showing His compassion.
How can we apply this verse to our own lives?
We can apply this by remembering God's patience and grace in our lives and showing similar patience and grace to others, even when they have wronged us.