"Greetings in the Name of our ord and Savior Jesus Christ for 23 November 2012, from Cindi, a Daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."
Today's Blog Title: "God's Continuing Love for Israel"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Hosea 11:1-11
Today's Blog Key Verse: Hosea 11:10-11 "They shall walk after the Lord. he will roar like a lion. When He roars, Then His sons shall come trembling from the west; They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt, Like a dove from the land of Assyria. And I will let them dwell in their houses, Says the LORD."
Here in Hosea 11, we have perhaps the strongest of all Old Testament affirmations of God's love for His people. That love is a compassion which persists despite rebellion and unfaithfulness. it s a commitment which, while is has room for discipline, leaves no room for abandonment. In the end God's love will triumph and even defiant Israel will repent and receive the rich blessing God yearns to pour out.
The Lord regarded Israel as His son and treated the nation with special care, delivering the people from bondage in Egypt. Also in Matthew 2:14-15 we read, "When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother at night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it night be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called my Son." These words quoted by Matthew, was of Jesus. Israel and Jesus were alike in that both were the objects of the love of the Father and both were called "my son" and both were in Egypt.
In verses 3 and 4, the imagery is of a toddler learning to walk, encouraged by a stooping adult who shows infinite patience and concern. When we stumble and fall, we need to picture God bending down to life us up, saying, "That's all right. Let's try again. Walk for Daddy."
We as human beings lose patience, but God is different, for His love is patient and His love cannot be weighed on balance scales, for He is God. In the coming judgment, God would tear Israel like a lion, in the future, God's "lionlike roar" would summon His people from exile. In the past, the people of Israel had flown back and forth between nations like a dove, in the future, the people of Israel will speed back to their homeland "like a bird."
What a comfort and challenge for us today that God loves us as our Abba Father. It is a comfort, for it reminds us that when we fall short, and are tempted to shrink back from God in fear and shame, He keeps on loving us and invites us to return. It is a challenge, for like Hosea, himself, we are called to love others as God loves us.
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yelled out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
Today's Blog Title: "God's Continuing Love for Israel"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Hosea 11:1-11
Today's Blog Key Verse: Hosea 11:10-11 "They shall walk after the Lord. he will roar like a lion. When He roars, Then His sons shall come trembling from the west; They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt, Like a dove from the land of Assyria. And I will let them dwell in their houses, Says the LORD."
Here in Hosea 11, we have perhaps the strongest of all Old Testament affirmations of God's love for His people. That love is a compassion which persists despite rebellion and unfaithfulness. it s a commitment which, while is has room for discipline, leaves no room for abandonment. In the end God's love will triumph and even defiant Israel will repent and receive the rich blessing God yearns to pour out.
The Lord regarded Israel as His son and treated the nation with special care, delivering the people from bondage in Egypt. Also in Matthew 2:14-15 we read, "When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother at night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it night be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called my Son." These words quoted by Matthew, was of Jesus. Israel and Jesus were alike in that both were the objects of the love of the Father and both were called "my son" and both were in Egypt.
In verses 3 and 4, the imagery is of a toddler learning to walk, encouraged by a stooping adult who shows infinite patience and concern. When we stumble and fall, we need to picture God bending down to life us up, saying, "That's all right. Let's try again. Walk for Daddy."
We as human beings lose patience, but God is different, for His love is patient and His love cannot be weighed on balance scales, for He is God. In the coming judgment, God would tear Israel like a lion, in the future, God's "lionlike roar" would summon His people from exile. In the past, the people of Israel had flown back and forth between nations like a dove, in the future, the people of Israel will speed back to their homeland "like a bird."
What a comfort and challenge for us today that God loves us as our Abba Father. It is a comfort, for it reminds us that when we fall short, and are tempted to shrink back from God in fear and shame, He keeps on loving us and invites us to return. It is a challenge, for like Hosea, himself, we are called to love others as God loves us.
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yelled out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
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