Hosea 11 -- Just What I Needed To Hear

I think each of us should look at this chapter as being a hand-written note from God about ourselves:

“When ________ was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of [the sinful state he was in].  But when I called, at first he went away from Me, even worshiping other things not of Me.  It was I who taught him to walk in My way, and I took him by the arms, but he didn’t understand that I had healed him – he still felt infected by his desire for things not of Me.  I led him with cords of human kindness [people I’d put in his path at just the right moments to move him onto My course], with “ropes” of love [not ropes of slavery].  I lifted the yoke [of sin’s awful burden and guilt] from his neck, and I bent down [though that’s not something humans imagine that a “god” would do] and fed him exactly what he needed when he needed it – My Word.”

“____________, how can I give you up [to Satan]?  How can I give you away?  I don’t want you to be like the others who I loved but who ended up turning from me, totally destroyed by sin.  My heart beats for you!  And My love for you stirs up My pity!  I won’t punish you in My anger, and I won’t destroy your life.  I am God and not a human; I am the Holy One, and I am right beside you.  I will not come against you in anger … I will settle you again in your home,” says the Lord.

I always find it hard to believe that You can love me that much, Father.  But You’ve shown me over and over that You do, despite my worst.  Thanks for being God and not a human.  You never fail me.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford