Not Asked for Much

I recently finished Daniel and have started the book of Hosea. For some background info Hosea is one of the minor prophets at the end of the Old Testament and like many prophets, warning Israel of the coming invasion of Babylon and Jesus’ coming. The interesting, and very sad, thing about Hosea is he is used by God as an instrument to demonstrate how He feels. Hosea marries a prostitute that despite his love, continually breaks his heart by being unfaithful. God’s point is that we are that women, we are unfaithful to Him. Makes you think doesn’t it? This post isn’t so much about that, but more about chapter 2 verses 16 and 23. Despite being continually letdown time after time this is what God says to Hosea, “In that day…you will call me ‘my husband,’ you will no longer call me ‘my master.’” In verse 23 God says “I will show my love to the one I called ‘not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people’ ‘You are my people:’ and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”  That is the depth of God’s love, it’s not that He turns a blind eye to what we’re doing, it’s that He refuses to give up on the hope that we will once again turn to Him. The truth is that God is more hurt than angry when we sin, it’s like having someone you love turn against you. Sin isn’t something off the long list of “no no’s” it’s when we take something given by God and put it either out of context, or above him. A few examples, revenge is a perverted form of justice, baseball (for me) can become a too-consuming passion, the list goes on and on. And more importantly God is hurt by this, but He doesn’t give up on us. It used to be that the Israelites were “the chosen people,” but in these verses God is saying “No, I made all people, I will not give up on ALL of my people.” All God really asks of us is our time, considering what He’s given to us I think it’s fair.