Saturday 22 September 2007
- Bible Book:
- Hosea
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I lead them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them".
Background
The book of Hosea is really a love story. The prophet wasmarried to Gomer who was persistently unfaithful to him. Yet timeand time again he forgave her and accepted her back into his home.Something that would be gracious in this generation, but in the700s BC, was amazing.
So Hosea knew well about costly love. He was well qualified tointerpret his experience in the light of God's love to his people.He understood that the Almighty was greater than anythingimaginable; was the force that drove the world; was loveunimaginable.
In this chapter, however, Hosea likens God's love to that of aparent's love to a child. He likens Israel's history to a lovestory, but not a happy story. For God's unending and enormous lovewas not returned by his people. Hence, like a deeply caring parent,God was hurt by this non-response.
So, through his experience, Hosea tells God's message that God'sstory is not one of blind and blithe love, but is also a story ofsuffering. We cannot glibly say, "God is love" withoutunderstanding that "God is suffering" too. Suffering is aconsequence of loving. God is not immune from this, yet in spite ofsuch suffering through rejection and unfaithfulness, God does notgive up on his people.
The insight of Hosea, whether he knew it or not, extends beyond hisown doorstep and touches all generations. Some have called his bookthe 'gospel' of the Old Testament, which shows God's costly love,just as it is shown in Jesus' sufferings on the cross.
To Ponder
Can the suffering of Jesus on the cross be a onceonly done deal? What sacrifices are being asked of you in yourlife, in which you could try to act in the power of God's costlylove?