The Longing of God
The Longing of God
Hosea 11-14
“I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love.”
We often view God as distant and impersonal. We see Him as one who is in heaven, detached from our lives and the affairs of the world. However, as we read through the prophets, a different picture emerges. Although God brings judgment upon sin because of His holiness, he is still a compassionate God who longs to have a personal relationship with us. Throughout the book of Hosea, the themes of Judgment and grace are interwoven to present us a picture of God. God is not in heaven detached from His creation and from us. The more Israel rebelled, the more He sent the prophets to call them back (Hosea 11:2). Despite their sin, He still has compassion for His people in 11:3-4. Looking back at the Exodus, God reminds them that He cared for them. He presents the picture of a loving father who cares for his infant child. He cares for us like a father who bends down to hold his child by the hand as the child starts to learn to take his first steps. When He allows Egypt to enslave them because of sin, God sill responds in love when they cry out to Him (see Exodus 1-3). Hosea reminds us that God gently led Israel to the promised land with the bonds of kindness and love rather than the bonds of slavery. When they were hungry in the wilderness, He bent down and cared for them. Yet in spite of God’s love and compassion, they were determined to go their own way. They gave lip service to God, claiming to follow Him while rejecting His laws and turning away from them (11:7). Even then God continued to show His love and compassion rather than His anger. Thus, His faithfulness stands in stark contrast to humanities unfaithful so Him (11:12).
When the people continued to rebel and turn away, He sent His prophets to proclaim His word, yet the people continued to rebel and refused to listen (12:12-14). But we are no different today. Instead of obeying God’s law, we continue to rebel under the guise that the Bible is not God’s word, and we attribute the portions of scripture that confront our sin to the biased writings of unenlightened men. We accept the teaching of the Bible that God is loving and gracious, but deny the teachings that condemn our rebellion. Everyone affirms the reality of heaven, but many still deny the existence of hell.
In spite of the people's continual rebellion, God still offered grace and forgiveness. If they would abandon their idolatry, He would still forgive their sin and heal their spiritual apostasy (14:1-6). This is true for us today. The words of the prophet remind us that even when we ignore Him and make light of His call to holiness and obedience, He still cares deeply about us and desires for us to seek Him. God will not overlook our sin if we continue to rebel, but He promises to love and care for us when we see Him. Hosea ends with a challenge. “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in them” (14:9). God deeply loves us and all His commands are governed by His love. The question we must ask ourselves is this, “Are we living by his word, or ignoring His word?”
Hosea 11-14
“I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love.”
We often view God as distant and impersonal. We see Him as one who is in heaven, detached from our lives and the affairs of the world. However, as we read through the prophets, a different picture emerges. Although God brings judgment upon sin because of His holiness, he is still a compassionate God who longs to have a personal relationship with us. Throughout the book of Hosea, the themes of Judgment and grace are interwoven to present us a picture of God. God is not in heaven detached from His creation and from us. The more Israel rebelled, the more He sent the prophets to call them back (Hosea 11:2). Despite their sin, He still has compassion for His people in 11:3-4. Looking back at the Exodus, God reminds them that He cared for them. He presents the picture of a loving father who cares for his infant child. He cares for us like a father who bends down to hold his child by the hand as the child starts to learn to take his first steps. When He allows Egypt to enslave them because of sin, God sill responds in love when they cry out to Him (see Exodus 1-3). Hosea reminds us that God gently led Israel to the promised land with the bonds of kindness and love rather than the bonds of slavery. When they were hungry in the wilderness, He bent down and cared for them. Yet in spite of God’s love and compassion, they were determined to go their own way. They gave lip service to God, claiming to follow Him while rejecting His laws and turning away from them (11:7). Even then God continued to show His love and compassion rather than His anger. Thus, His faithfulness stands in stark contrast to humanities unfaithful so Him (11:12).
When the people continued to rebel and turn away, He sent His prophets to proclaim His word, yet the people continued to rebel and refused to listen (12:12-14). But we are no different today. Instead of obeying God’s law, we continue to rebel under the guise that the Bible is not God’s word, and we attribute the portions of scripture that confront our sin to the biased writings of unenlightened men. We accept the teaching of the Bible that God is loving and gracious, but deny the teachings that condemn our rebellion. Everyone affirms the reality of heaven, but many still deny the existence of hell.
In spite of the people's continual rebellion, God still offered grace and forgiveness. If they would abandon their idolatry, He would still forgive their sin and heal their spiritual apostasy (14:1-6). This is true for us today. The words of the prophet remind us that even when we ignore Him and make light of His call to holiness and obedience, He still cares deeply about us and desires for us to seek Him. God will not overlook our sin if we continue to rebel, but He promises to love and care for us when we see Him. Hosea ends with a challenge. “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in them” (14:9). God deeply loves us and all His commands are governed by His love. The question we must ask ourselves is this, “Are we living by his word, or ignoring His word?”
Recent
Archive
2026
January
February
The Divine InvitationThe Audacity of Man and the Supremacy of GodWhat is your attitude towards church?When God is AfflictedAn Accident or Divine DesignWhere do we turn for truth?Listening to the Right VoiceThe Challenge of Self-AssessmentFollowing the Right LeadersHope in Dark TimesThe Greatest Hope in a Time of Darkness
June
Certainty in an Uncertain WorldSinging a Song of PraiseSeeing God in the Challenges of LifeWhen theStorm Clouds are BuildingListening to the Right MessageThe God of Grace and JusticeBecoming Tolerant of SinTrusting in God for our SecurityListening to the Right VoicesGod's Transforming PowerGod's Eternal PresenceThe One who Controls the Nations
2025
January
Who do we listen to?God's Patience and the Certainty of JudgmentThe Present Implications of the FutureAcknoweldgement, Confession, and ForgivenessThe Mark of a Genuine DiscipleThe Unchanging WordThe Lost ARt of DiscernmentA Life that Pleases GodThe Subtle Danger of Spiritual PrideContending for the FaithThe Judgement of False TeachersKeep Our Faith in a Fallen WorldSecurity in a Insecure WorldThe God who Controls HistoryThe Terrifying Majesty of ChristThe Majesty of GodThe Praise of God's JusticeHaving Right Priorities in Life
February
The Autobiography of GodThe God who CreatesThe God who RecreatesThe God Who Gives Us SignificanceThe Blessing of God's PlansTrusting in the Timing and Plan of GodThe God who ProvidesGod's Sovereignty and GraceThe King of Self or the King of KingsThe Exclusive Worship of GodHas God Forgotten?The Wonder of God's Plan and TimingGod's Sovereignty and Forgiveness
March
When Life and Faith Do Not AlignThe Jealousy of GodThe Judgment and Delieverance of GodGod's Provision, Presence and ProclamationSalvation and TransformationA Dwelling for GodThe Righteous and Loving GodPreparing for God's PresenceThe Requirements of a Holy GodThe Sacrifices and ChristThe Holiness of God and the Uncleanness of HumanityPrioritizing GodThe Severity and Grace of HolinessGod's Blessings and DisciplineAproaching God on His Terms
April
A Call to HolinessOpportunity or FailurePride and HumilityA Talking Donkey and a Prophetic JackassTransitions and EmpowermentThe God of JusticeThe Danger of Spiritual ForgetfulnessObedience and the Danger of ComplacencyThe Most Important DecisionThe Test of a ProphetHOLINESS AS A WAY OF LIFEThe Choice
Categories
no categories