GOD’S LOVE IS LIKE THE PERFECT “FATHER”
In the final four chapters Hosea shifts to the theme of God’s intense love for Israel. God had always loved Israel as a parent loves a stubborn child and that is why He would not release Israel from the consequences of its behavior. The Israelites were sinful, and they would be punished like a rebellious son brought by his parents before the elders (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). All through Israel’s sad history, God repeatedly offered to restore the nation, if only it would turn to Him. By stubbornly refusing God’s invitation, the northern kingdom had sealed its doom. It would be destroyed as a nation never to rise again.
Read Hosea 11:1-2 God Pursues Us
The prophet Hosea began his message by picturing God as a rejected husband who nonetheless lovingly forgave and received His “wayward wife” back. Hosea has here shifted his imagery of God from a husband to a father- not as an abusive father but as a tender father wanting His children close. (We hear many stories about abusive fathers today.) (It breaks my heart to hear about these fathers.)Hosea depicted Israel as God’s son and then told of God’s nurturing activity toward him (Israel). Is there a lesson here for us? (God is our true example for how fathers should act toward their children.) Then Hosea referred to the fledgling nation in Egypt as “a child”, with all of the dependency and vulnerability that the word suggests. God shows His unlimited devotion to His people through the word “loved”. The phrase “My son” conveys intimacy and relationship. The word “called” means more than its normal use. It refers to the covenant terminology (Jeremiah 31:32) and implies the formation of a relationship. Here it means that Israel was adopted as God’s “son”. Like a father, God loved, trained and provided for His son Israel. Through Hosea, the Lord revealed how His love for Israel was not returned. In fact, Israel seemed to go even further from God. Think back to Exodus and how the people acted over & over as they were being “rescued” from Egypt.
Read Hosea 11:3-4 God Nurtures Us
Believers are not exempt from temptations surrounding others. In fact, Satan takes great delight when God’s children fail. So Satan tempts them all the more. God tries to bring us back to Him. The Lord nurtured Israel in six decisive ways. First, He taught Ephraim to walk. “Ephraim” as a name was given to Joseph’s youngest son (Gen. 41:5-52) but later became a designation for Israel (northern kingdom). Second, Hosea pictured God as taking them in His arms, which conveys love, security and protection to His children. Third, God healed them, which was another attempt to restore them to wholeness. Fourth, God led them with human cords and ropes of kindness. This was an agrarian image of a man leading his ox. So God was trying to lead His people with the loving care given a valued animal. Fifth, God would ease the yokes from their jaws. This is a picture of a light, poorly fitting yoke that would hurt the oxen and needed to be “eased”. Sixth, like a farmer feeding his animals, the Lord bent down to give them food. So again God was stretching or inclining toward His people with His love, His power and His resources for protection. So the question has to be –How could Israel be so blind? However,, the better question for us to discuss a bit is: How does God nurture us? (Think about what He has dome for us in the past and asking Him how He wants to nurture us today. Verse 4 signifies a true covenant based on God’s love (Jeremiah 31:3).
For some further information about God’s love, Copy and Paste:
http://f5548i1vh9vr8v1hw1rseuap3f.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=TEACHTHEBIBLE
http://4fd03ku0f-4l9w6qlh25q9eh-d.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=ABIDINGINGOD