Our Heavenly Father is the greatest father of all. He created us. Knit us together in our mother’s womb. He helps us when we are helpless.
Stories by Hosea and Luke in the Bible capture our God’s fatherly heart: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.” [1]
Our Heavenly Father’s rescue of the Israelites from the labor camps of Pharaoh is a metaphor for His rescue of any sinner from the dominion of darkness. He brings captives out of darkness into His marvelous light.
But in Hosea’s story, this liberty did not last long. Why? The very next verse... “They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.” [2]
After God rescued His people, they submitted themselves to other gods... sex gods... material gods... gods that were not gods, but demons disguised as gods.
“I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by their arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.” [3]
The picture above is of a loving father helping his child to walk for the first time. Embracing his child afterwards. Tending and caring for the child when he/she was ill. Being gentle, loving, and responsible to meet the child’s needs.
Later, the loved child made bad choices... “He shall not return to the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to repent. And the sword shall slash in his cities, devour his districts, and consume them, because of their own counsels.” [4]
A reckless bent to sin... a total disregard of warnings led to the child’s demise and devastation.
Stories by Hosea and Luke in the Bible capture our God’s fatherly heart: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.” [1]
Our Heavenly Father’s rescue of the Israelites from the labor camps of Pharaoh is a metaphor for His rescue of any sinner from the dominion of darkness. He brings captives out of darkness into His marvelous light.
But in Hosea’s story, this liberty did not last long. Why? The very next verse... “They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.” [2]
After God rescued His people, they submitted themselves to other gods... sex gods... material gods... gods that were not gods, but demons disguised as gods.
“I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by their arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.” [3]
The picture above is of a loving father helping his child to walk for the first time. Embracing his child afterwards. Tending and caring for the child when he/she was ill. Being gentle, loving, and responsible to meet the child’s needs.
Later, the loved child made bad choices... “He shall not return to the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to repent. And the sword shall slash in his cities, devour his districts, and consume them, because of their own counsels.” [4]
A reckless bent to sin... a total disregard of warnings led to the child’s demise and devastation.
But wait! Who is that in the distance? It is the child. He is returning. The father has compassion. He runs to his child. Overwhelmed with emotion, he hugs and kisses the child. The child is terribly sorry for hurting his father. The father says to his servants... “’Bring out the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.” [5]
Happy Father’s Day to the Greatest Father of all!
[1] Hosea 6:1
[2] Hosea 6:2
[3] Hosea 6:3-4
[4] Hosea 6:5-6
[5] Luke 15:20-24
Happy Father’s Day to the Greatest Father of all!
[1] Hosea 6:1
[2] Hosea 6:2
[3] Hosea 6:3-4
[4] Hosea 6:5-6
[5] Luke 15:20-24
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