Read: Hosea chapter 11
We read here how deeply God loved Israel, how He
was drawing Israel to Himself. He spoke of Ephraim
as a loving Father speaks of his own son. Though
Israel had committed ‘spiritual adultery’, God
still loved them and longed for them to come back.
Hosea’s marriage with a wife that was unfaithful
is directly related to God’s messages to Israel
through him. Hosea must have felt the agonizing
pain that God felt with unfaithful Israel.
How often in our own lives have we not been
completely faithful to God? How often have we
not been obedient? Many of us have struggled
from time to time in these areas. We may make
the wrong choices – we may even turn away for
a time. But God’s love for us remains the same.
He will always be faithful even though we may
not be. 2 Timothy 2:13 say “If we are faithless
[do not believe and are untrue to Him], He remains
true (faithful to His word and His righteous
character), for He cannot deny Himself.”
He is longing for us to come back to Him. “How
can I give you up, O Ephraim! How can I surrender
you and cast you off, O Israel! How can I make
you as Admah or how can I treat you as Zeboiim
[both destroyed with Sodom]! My heart recoils
within me; my compassions are kindled together.”
You can just feel the love and the longing that
was in Father God’s heart, in wanting to draw
up Ephraim in His arms, as a Father would do
with his child.
If you are struggling in your Christian walk, or
if you have turned away, come back to your ‘first
love’. Let Him draw you up into His arms. He longs
to have relationship with you. He loves you with
an everlasting love. Come back to Him today!
By M.S.Lowndes
For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure)
that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
principalities, nor things impending and
threatening nor things to come, nor powers,
Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in
all creation will be able to separate us
from the love of God which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8: 38-39
Lord I’ve not been faithful
I’ve wandered now and then
Draw me back with loving arms
To yourself again.
By M.S.Lowndes.
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