The book of Ezekiel contains unique information about God's chosen people. The whole scope of God's love, sovereignty, power, omniscience, righteousness, mercy, anger, wrath and judgment towards saved, but rebellious people is revealed. God's treatment of His chosen people is a model of the way that He treats with saved, but rebellious individuals. In 1 Pet 4:17-18, Peter said, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Ezekiel's story of the whirlwind is the account of the reason for God's judgment of the nation of Israel, and corresponds perfectly with Peter's statement that "judgment must begin at the house of God." That nation was outwardly committed to God. They maintained that they trusted in God but they were guilty of being like neighboring nations.