Fleeting anger but a lifetime of love
Every day we’re asking four questions about part of the Bible. Today Liz Nixon answers:
What did I like about today’s passage?
Hosea gives the people a history lesson, reminding them of their unfaithfulness throughout history by talking about the lies and treachery of Jacob, their rebellion in the wilderness and the appointment of a proud King Saul.
Hosea ends the book by once more encouraging the people to return to God because foreign superpowers will not save the people. But in God, Hosea says, the fatherless will find compassion. There are some notable, great verses:
Hosea 13 v 14 - an amazing verse which sums up the whole of God’s saving plan for humanity – that He will ransom us from the power of the grave and redeem us from death.
Hosea 14 v 1 - O Israel, come back! Return to your God! You’re down but you’re not out.
The second verse is from The Message and perfectly demonstrates our situation – we may be down, but we are never out. The love of God means we are never counted out!
What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
We see God once more reminiscing over Israel, this time comparing it to being His son. He talks of loving this son, calling him, taking him by the arms and lovingly teaching him to walk. He healed Israel, was kind to Israel, lifted the burdens from his shoulders and bent down to feed him.
God has been intimately involved with the raising of this son but has been poorly repaid. The son grew up and rejected the abundant generosity of His Father. Israel listened to other voices, not his Father’s voice and wanted to go to Egypt, the place that historically held Israel captive, or to Assyria. It seemed that Israel wanted to go anywhere but back to his Father.
God is rightly angry with Israel for his continued unfaithfulness and we see the depths of passion and torment in God’s heart – He has been treated badly by a beloved son, but I love His response, “How can I give you up?” My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused”. It reminds me of Psalm 30 “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime”.
God leads with love and will not carry out His “fierce anger”. God is love, and acts in love. Instead, He promises that when His children come back home to Him, He will settle them in their homes. He will “heal their waywardness and love them freely” and their repentance, redemption and restoration will see them be a blessing to the nations once more, as God always intended. The love of God is utterly amazing, breath-taking, and almost too good to be true!
What am I going to do differently as a result?
Consider the impact of my unfaithfulness on God’s heart. And worship Him thankfully because His anger is fleeting, and His love for me is faithful, passionate, and eternal.
Who am I going to share this with?
My family.