In the past, Israel rebelled against God. Because of this, God judged them in limited ways. As a result, they were scattered among other nations again.
However, judgment was not the end of the story. Earlier events in Israel’s history showed that God does not forget his promises. God’s own honor required him to keep his covenant with his people, even when they sinned.
Israel could never become like the surrounding nations who worship idols made of wood and stone (Ezekiel 20:32). God had chosen Israel to belong to him. Because of this, he would gather them again.
God said he would bring them into the wilderness, as he did in the first exodus from Egypt. This would be like a new exodus. But this was not only good news.
After the first exodus, an entire generation died in the wilderness because of their sin. In the same way, God would judge this new generation. He would remove those who continued to rebel and refuse to obey him.
Those rebels would not enter the land of Israel. The wilderness among the nations would become their final resting place.