Tuesday, June 06, 2023

1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. ² The more I called them, the farther they went away.  They sacrificed to other gods – the Baals, and they burned incense to idols. ³ I was the one who taught the people of Ephraim to walk.  I took them by the hand.  But they didn’t realize that I had healed them. ⁴ I led them with cords of human kindness, with ropes of love.  I removed the yokes  from their necks.  I bent down and fed them.

⁵ “They will not return to Egypt.  Instead, Assyria will rule them because they have refused to return to me. ⁶ War will sweep through their cities, demolish their city gates, and put an end to their plans. ⁷ My people are determined to turn away from me.  Even if they call to the Most High, he will not pardon them.

⁸ “How can I give you up, Ephraim?  How can I hand you over, Israel?  How can I make you like Admah?  How can I treat you like Zeboim?  I have changed my mind.  I am deeply moved. ⁹ I will not act on my burning anger.  I will not destroy Ephraim again.  I am God, not a human.  I am the Holy One among you, and I will not come to you in anger.                            Hosea 11:1 – 9 

I’m so glad I’m part of the family of God.  Hosea speaks forth for God, comparing God’s relationship with Israel to that of a father and his son.  God is Father; Israel is son.  God birthed Israel, fed Israel, led Israel, and taught them to walk.  Certainly with the New Israel too.  Yet Israel rebelled against their Father and went their own way like the Prodigal.  And God’s first reaction is to punish Israel again, to use the aggression of another nation (Assyria) to punish Israel.  But God changed His mind.  He will not mirror the actions of a human father; He is the holy Father who will respond in love, not anger.

I have a Father.  He birthed me into this world.  He has fed me when I was unable to feed myself.  He taught me to crawl and walk.  He has loved me, nurtured me, corrected me, challenged me.  And at times, I have failed to fully appreciate my sonship.  I have weighed myself down with the sins and follies of this world.  I have let go too soon of my Father’s hand and fallen flat of my face.  Yet, He has seldom “punished” me.  Instead, He has come to me as the Holy Father, a Father of a different breed.  He picks me up, brushes me off, and we walk together hand in hand.  O Holy Father, I’m grateful for your nurturing.  I’m unworthy of it all, but I need it more today than ever.  Walk with me; hold my hand; lead me; feed me until my journey with You is made complete.  Amen!