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Your words today, O God, are so touching because you are so human, so fatherly, to tender, so loving:
Thus says the Lord: When Israel was a child, I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the farther they went from me, sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols.
Hosea 11:1-2
So true, O God: you have always loved us despite our unworthiness, freeing us from sins and other darkness in life yet, we turned away from you; and worst, the more you call us, the more we turn away from you! And despite that, you kept on calling us, even running after us so we may return to you through your Son Jesus Christ but, sadly, the more we run away from you.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; yet, though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer.
Hosea 11:3-4
This part I love so much, God; so touching, so picturesque of you, so human, so fatherly like a daddy teaching us how to walk, tenderly drawing us with "human cords, with bands of love", not with with ropes and sticks used for animals; most of all, your gentlest and tenderest image of raising us to your cheeks like an infant, stooping to feed us that all show your intimacy and deep love we have brushed aside, even spurned. And that is how ungrateful we are!!! Yet, you are still here, loving us, forgiving us in Jesus Christ who suffered and died for our sins.
My heart is overwhelmed; my pity stirred. I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One present among you; I will not let the flames consume you.
Hosea 11:8-9
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for letting us call your Father "Abba!", thank you for letting us experience his touch that heals and cleanses, his love that forgives and casts out demons from us; let us be reminders today that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Amen.
