Hosea Chapter 11

Scripture Reading:  Read Hosea Chapter 11. 

Driven by Love:

Hosea 11:8-9 – Oh, how can I give you up, Israel?  How can I let you go?  How can I destroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim?  My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows.  No, I will not unleash my fierce anger.  I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal.  I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy. (NIV)

In many ways, we are people driven by our emotions. When someone is good to me, I want to show them goodness back. When someone wrongs me, I want to at least ignore the person, but if we’re honest, we wouldn’t mind it if they got what they deserved. In this chapter of Hosea, we again see the love of God, that His love is not like our love.   

Despite Israel's persistent disobedience and lack of devotion, the Lord's love for His people remains steadfast. If it were any other being, they might have long given up on these wayward individuals. But our God is not like us. His love is not swayed by our emotions or our actions. He is the Holy One of Israel, driven solely by love. 

The content of this whole chapter points ahead to the work of Christ, who was driven by love.  If you will remember, John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (NIV)

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for your unfailing love that we do not deserve.  I pray that you will infiltrate my heart with your love; help me love others the way you have shown undeserving love to me.