September 20 - Hosea 11-14
This final section of the book of Hosea is a very tender message from a Loving Father to His son, Israel. Let's look at it from that perspective this morning and see the heart of God for His people.
Chapter 10 begins by saying that God loved Israel from the infancy of the the country. (v. 1) He called His son, Israel, out of Egypt, when he was still a young man. He taught him to walk. (v.3) he stooped to feed his little boy. (v.4) In other words, God was watching Israel grow, and He was nurturing His people tenderly through the early years. However, then like a rebellious teenager, Israel backslides from God, and he does not take his father seriously. (v.7) This strikes at the heart of his Father. (v.8b) God watches His son walk away from Him, and He determines not to punish him in His full fury. (v.9) He does punish, but His heart is waiting for His son to return to Him. (v.11) Do you know that God loves you like this? I hope you see His heart.
Chapter 11 presents a twist to the same theme. Israel is the unfaithful son, but Judah is the son, who is still walking with his Father. (10:12 ff) This shows how God has to deal with each of His children based on their own needs. He recalls how Jacob had wrestled with the Angel. (v.4) I believe He is praying that Judah will remain faithful instead of following in the footsteps of his unfaithful brother. (v.6) However, He knows in His heart that He will have to punish Judah eventually. He will have to try to help them both learn the lesson that He is the only Savior. (13:4) These lessons are hard to administer, and they are hard on God's loving heart. (13:8) However, God has an unwise son, so He must try to show Him the way. (13: 13)
Finally, chapter 14 sounds like the parable of the prodigal son in the New Testament. God is waiting for Israel to return. (v.1) He is ready to forgive and to heal. (v.4) He is not waiting in anger, but in love. He wants to see His son live a fruitful life, not a wasted life. (v.8b) There is such longing in these words, because of God's heart of love and restoration. Are you a rebellious son or daughter today? You can return. Are you a faithful son or daughter? You can bear witness to God's faithfulness to your siblings. No matter who we are we should pray for all of God's children to live in the warmth of His favor and not the pain of His punishment.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Joel 1-3.
Chapter 10 begins by saying that God loved Israel from the infancy of the the country. (v. 1) He called His son, Israel, out of Egypt, when he was still a young man. He taught him to walk. (v.3) he stooped to feed his little boy. (v.4) In other words, God was watching Israel grow, and He was nurturing His people tenderly through the early years. However, then like a rebellious teenager, Israel backslides from God, and he does not take his father seriously. (v.7) This strikes at the heart of his Father. (v.8b) God watches His son walk away from Him, and He determines not to punish him in His full fury. (v.9) He does punish, but His heart is waiting for His son to return to Him. (v.11) Do you know that God loves you like this? I hope you see His heart.
Chapter 11 presents a twist to the same theme. Israel is the unfaithful son, but Judah is the son, who is still walking with his Father. (10:12 ff) This shows how God has to deal with each of His children based on their own needs. He recalls how Jacob had wrestled with the Angel. (v.4) I believe He is praying that Judah will remain faithful instead of following in the footsteps of his unfaithful brother. (v.6) However, He knows in His heart that He will have to punish Judah eventually. He will have to try to help them both learn the lesson that He is the only Savior. (13:4) These lessons are hard to administer, and they are hard on God's loving heart. (13:8) However, God has an unwise son, so He must try to show Him the way. (13: 13)
Finally, chapter 14 sounds like the parable of the prodigal son in the New Testament. God is waiting for Israel to return. (v.1) He is ready to forgive and to heal. (v.4) He is not waiting in anger, but in love. He wants to see His son live a fruitful life, not a wasted life. (v.8b) There is such longing in these words, because of God's heart of love and restoration. Are you a rebellious son or daughter today? You can return. Are you a faithful son or daughter? You can bear witness to God's faithfulness to your siblings. No matter who we are we should pray for all of God's children to live in the warmth of His favor and not the pain of His punishment.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Joel 1-3.