“But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.”
God had acted to protect His own ‘name' and reputation (compare Psalms 106:8; Isaiah 48:9; Jeremiah 14:7; Jeremiah 14:21). The name in the ancient world indicated all that someone was. To see God's glory was the same as knowing His name (Exodus 33:18-19). So instead of punishing Israel He had delivered them so that the nations would see what kind of a God He was, and would not be able to decry His great power and ability to deliver.