Hosea 11 reminds me of a father’s love. Very often mom is the soft one that kisses boo-boos and gushes with praise over her child’s every accomplishment, but Dad does the heavy lifting. It is dad running behind the bicycle holding the seat, and dad that takes them out on driving lessons. It is dad that administers punishment and stands up to the rebellious challenge. Dad’s heart swells with pride when they score and dad stands stoic when they storm out the door. And dad holds mom as they let them leave. In today’s chapter we see the compassion behind the discipline. God’s love is beyond measure. He even loves us enough to give us free will. The chapter begins, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son“. Remember Egypt was that place Israel ran to every time things got hard. They could have turned to God, but they turned away and He allowed them to go. “The more they were called, the more they went away from Me“. I have a picture of dad driving all over town until sunrise, hoping to see them. Pictures flash in His mind, “It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them… I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them“.
God knows that in their stubbornness, they will make bad choices. Behind the scenes, He still protects, “A sword will flash… it will devour their false prophets“. He also knows some lessons must be learned the hard way. “Assyria will rule over them because they refuse to repent… My people are determined to turn from Me“.
They only call to ask for a quick “loan”. God does not reject them, even when they do not reciprocate. He says, they do not ask for forgiveness “Even though they call Me God Most High“. Yet listen to the heart of God toward His rebellious child, “How can I give you up… How can I hand you over?” No matter how ungrateful the child and no matter how ugly the words exchanged, please listen to the Father’s Love, “My heart is changed within Me; all My compassion is aroused“. My friend, have you been a runaway? Your dad may not be able to forgive and forget, but please listen to the words of the Lord, “I will not carry out My fierce anger… For I am God, and not a man the Holy One among you“. Have you been afraid to go back home? Have you been worried God will not accept you? I love this next image. “He will roar like a lion“, not hungry to destroy, but calling to be found. “When He roars, His children will come… They will come… trembling like sparrows… fluttering like doves“. This is not a tentative return, but a full out sprint. They cannot come to Him in rebellion; they must come to Him with humility, knowing He is Lord of all. God does not require them to clean up their life first. God will clean then up from the inside out as soon as they ask Him. He closes with this promise to the returning refugees, “I will settle them in their homes“. Are you ready to come back home and experience the compassion of God? “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Thank you Father!