God's Motivations for the Salvation of Humankind

Human Need:

"Human need includes the facts that we are lost and need to be found; we are enslaved and need to be freed; we are condemned and need to be pardoned; we are alienated and need to be reconciled; we are in darkness and need light; we are oppressed and need justice; we are sick and need healing..." Christopher Wright, The Message of Ezekiel, 24.

Divine Emotion:

"Divine emotion includes the wonderful biblical affirmations that God loves us, pities us, has compassion and mercy on us, grieves over aour wilful waywardness, longs for our return, rejoices in our restoration, celebrates our homecoming." ibid, 24.

Himself:

"But for [Yahweh] almost the sole issue, and certainly the overwhelming motivation, was what the salvation of Israel would mean for Yahweh himself...But what ultimately mattered was that Yahweh's name and reputation should be vindicated and that Yahweh should be universally acknowedged as God...Needs and emotions are not excluded; but what matters most is the glory of God and the honour of his name." ibid, 25.