PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Hosea 11-12
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel?” (Hosea 11:8)
God is not human like us, but as humans we are like God.
Our relationship to each other is shaped after God’s own relationship with us.
God is like our father, and we are like his children; and he loves us deeply.
In these chapters you can sense the deep parental pain for their child.
God created us in love and designed us to know the ‘very good’ fullness of creation.
God’s heart for us is only for the best, and God knows perfectly what that means.
God does not want us to suffer, and knows that is what our behaviour leads to.
Hear the heart of a parent that sees their child throwing their life away.
‘How can I let go, how can I do nothing to stop it, how can I just sit here?’
God is not the reason for all the violence or misery Israel is to go through.
Like a child joining a gang, or doing drugs, the misery comes naturally.
To ‘hand over’ Israel is to let Israel experience the consequences of their choices.
In these words I hear God’s determination to do what he can to help me.
Jesus is the way God steps in to help us, to face and overcome our sin and misery.
PRAYER
Lord, you show me how much God cares, and how far God goes to help. Thank you that NOTHING can separate me from God’s love!
“My people are determined to turn from me. Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them.” The prophet paints a picture of God tending to His people as an mother caring for an infant – yet when the infant grows and matures it rebels and goes against God. So God withdraws – even thought they call God most high – they ignore God’s covenant – they ignore his commands and ways. Yet, God has compassion – compassion enough for his rebellious children to send a saviour. Like Moses Jesus came to lead us out of slavery to sin but unlike Moses Jesus is the way out of death – estrangement from God – to becoming a child of God! Lord Jesus thank you – Gracious Father thank you!