Hosea 9-11; Psalm 138
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Already in Hosea God has used the picture of a man who loves an
adulterous wife to describe His love toward Israel, and now in Hosea 11 God
uses the image of a father and a rebellious son.
I’ve seen parents go through the experience of their grown
children turning away from the ways they were taught. A son or daughter start along a path of poor decisions, and
the parents can see that pain and destruction lie ahead. The parents can warn them and show them
love, but ultimately the son or daughter makes their own choices and the
parents cannot force them to change.
I can’t imagine the heartache, the anguish, and the stress that
must come from watching your children get involved in things you know will hurt
their lives and the lives of those around them, and especially so if your
relationship with them becomes estranged.
What if your child when he or she is grown wants nothing to do with
you?
This is how God feels about His children. He wants us to choose what is best in
our lives, He wants us to be safe, He wants us to have a close relationship
with Him, and He wants us to still need Him. He gives us the freedom to make our own choices and His love
is never ending, but it breaks His heart when we choose to push Him away.
“I myself taught
Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care
of him. (11:3)
My people are
determined to desert me. (11:7)
Oh, how can I
give you up, Israel? How can I let
you go?
My heart is torn
within me, and my compassion overflows.” (11:8)
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