Readings for today: Hosea 10-14
Hosea includes some of the most tender imagery in the Bible. I love how he describes God’s love for His people. It is deep. Profound. The love of a Father for his children. I identify with this language as a father myself. I know how this love feels. I feel it in my gut when I think about my own children. I remember holding each of them when they were born. I remember the feel of their soft skin and the wonder of their sweet cries. I remember when they took their first steps and said their first words. I remember when they began to smile and laugh. Though my children are now adults or approaching adulthood, these tender feelings of love remain. My heart swells with pride when I think of them and all they have accomplished over their short lives. Are they perfect? No. Have we had our battles over the years? Of course. Has any of that diminished my great love for them? Not a chance. The same is true for our God. Listen again to these words. Let them wash over you. Let them remind you of just how much you are loved and cherished by your Heavenly Father.
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son…Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them…How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.” (Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8-9)
I don’t know who may need to hear this today but God is for you not against you. God loves you, He does not hate you. When God looks at you, He has a smile on His face and a twinkle in His eye. His heart fills with joy every time He thinks of you. He is with you every minute of every day. He will never, ever leave your side. This is His promise and though you may experience what feels like His anger for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime. How do I know these things are true? He says as much in His Word, “I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.” (Hosea 14:4-7)
Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 1-4