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Reference: HOSEA 11: 1 - 12 (please read)
When we love, we become vulnerable. The deeper our love, the greater the emotions when the object of love lets us down. Such was he case with God and His people. Right at the start, God bestowed on them the honour and priviledge of sonship (v1). Then, like a loving Father, He tenderly nurtured them, taking them by the arms and teaching them to walk (v3). Ever watchful, He cared for them, leading them step by step in kindness (v4). When they hurt, He gave them healing (v3b). When they were burdened and bowed down, He lifted their heaviness and set them free (v4). Like a mother, He graciously bent down to feed them, making sure their needs were fully met.
Yet for all that they received, His children returned love with rebellion and kindness with rejection. How it must break the heart of the Father! Tears come as we catch the anguish and the dilemma in the questions the Father posed:
"How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah? (A town destroyed in divine judgement - Genesis 10:19)
How can I make you like Zeboiim?" (Another town wiped out in judgement - Genesis 10:19)
Inspite of all that they had done, and persisted in doing, God's love held on tenaciously in faithfulness and hope. But how it grieved the Father's heart!
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Dear readers, how have we been treating God lately?
Signing off,
-blogteam-
2 comments:
The love of God just melts us.....
Yeah.. it does..
-sarah-
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