Hosea 11

Bible Passage:  Hosea 11

Our parents remember how they raised us up, how they taught us to walk, how they fed us, carried us and endured our wrongdoings. So does our Father in Heaven.

“I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.”

Sadly, when God is nostalgic about His people in the past, they forgot about this and turned to Baals and carved images. It is so heart-breaking to read this line..

“The more they called them, the more they went from them..” Hos 11: 2 (NASB)

Before we start to judge and criticize about how unfaithful the Israelites were, consider if we have hurt God the same way too.

How many times, have we kept God waiting for us to finish our work or appointment; and we only give Him the last and least bit of our time?

How many times have we considered everything but God whenever we made decisions?

How many times did we choose to ignore the voice and calling of the Holy Spirit?

In Hebrew, Baal means lord or master. Anyone or anything that takes the place of God in our heart is our own Baal. I shudder to think about the number of Baals and carved images that have taken God’s place in my heart..

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!”

Before we even talk about loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; Is God one in our heart? Does He have our best interest at heart?

Then, I was amazed. When amidst all these betrayal and unfaithfulness, God made these statements.

“How can I give you up, Ephraim?”

“How can I hand you over, Israel?”

“My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred.”

Note that before these statements there was no signs of repentance from the people to God. But God was moved with compassion to His people.

How can I afford to give up on the lost ones, when God hasn’t?

How can I harden my heart and take God for granted when His heart churns for me?

How can I forget Him whose thoughts about me are more in number than the sand? (Ps 139: 17, 18)

 

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