Hosea 11:1–4 (ESV),
"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 The more they were called,
the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning
offerings to idols. 3 Yet it was I
who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know
that I healed them. 4 I led them with
cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who
eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them."
In own of the most endearing statements in the
Bible, directed to a nation who is soon to be under judgment, we get a glimpse
of God's amazing love. "In highly anthropomorphic terms, the Lord pours out
his irrepressible love; Isa. 49:15 and Jer. 31:20 express the same sentiment.
The relationship between God and his chosen must not be viewed as a formality.
These emotional outpourings demonstrate that the Lord is a person, filled with
compassion—unlike the lifeless Baals." [1]
Here in this passage,
perfectly blended with love and judgment, anger and affection, we witness the
heart of God. This God in Christ would weep over a Jerusalem that would
be decimated in 40 years. ““O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often
would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under
her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate.” (Matthew
23:37–38,
ESV).
This is the God who
both wills that “. . . that any should
perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, ESV); and at the same time “. . . he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he
wills.”
(Romans 9:18, ESV).
John Piper makes this
clear:
God's emotional life is infinitely complex beyond
our ability to fully comprehend . . . Or who can comprehend that God is
angry at the sin of the world every day (Psalm 7:11),
and yet every day, every moment, he is rejoicing with tremendous joy because
somewhere in the world a sinner is repenting (Luke 15:7,10,23)? Who can
comprehend that God continually burns with hot anger at the rebellion of the
wicked, grieves over the unholy speech of his people (Ephesians 4:29-30),
yet takes pleasure in them daily (Psalm 149:4),
and ceaselessly makes merry over penitent prodigals who come home? [2]
A God that can be understood completely cannot be worshiped completely.
____________________________________________________
1. Crossway
Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1638). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
2. http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/are-there-two-wills-in-god
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