An Intimate Love

Those ancient prophets of Israel should have put the fear of God into the rebellious people who listened, but such was not necessarily the case.  It is interesting how they could often speak doom and destruction while at the same time speak about the love of God.  An example of this is found in that eighth century prophet, Hosea, whose broken marriage to an unfaithful woman pointed toward the way the people had lived in relationship to God.  As Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea, so were the people of Israel unfaithful to God.  As Hosea loved Gomer despite her unfaithfulness, so did God love the people despite their unfaithfulness.   

In fact, there is; perhaps, no more intimate expression of God's love than is found in the eleventh chapter of Hosea.  Through the prophet God speaks, "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son...I taught (him) to walk...I took them up in My arms...I led 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 and fed them..." (Hosea 11:1-4). Here is a Word which speaks of the heart of God.  It is a Word which enables us to see how He loves us.  

What most of us confess about ourselves is that we have lived too much like those ancient people to whom the prophet spoke.  We have depended on other people to save us.  We have put other gods like success, getting ahead, and meeting the needs of ego on the altar as objects of our worship.  It has not been the God who loves us whom we have placed at the center of our lives, but lesser things.   Most of us know ourselves as rebellious prodigals intent on our own way; yet, despite everything God does not give up on us.  He continues to love us.  As disappointed and angry as He may be at the choices we make that separate us from Him,  His love is steadfast and like the father who looks for his prodigal son to return home, He never ceases looking for us with an unending love filled with mercy and forgiveness.