God’s chosen people weren’t always that “lovable!” God called them “stiff-necked, and “rebellious” when they turned their back on him and went after other god’s. Again, and again, he forgave, he restored, why? He loved them with an everlasting love.
Probably no story in scripture shows more descriptively the love of God for the wanderer than that of Hosea and Gomer. Hosea pulls Gomer out of her life as a prostitute and into his arms. He allows her to see what TRUE LOVE really is like. Yet, over and over, she is unfaithful! She looks everywhere else – but Hosea is faithful. Faithful to the point that even when she became a slave, he bought her back! Bought back her freedom for fifteen pieces of silver – half the price of a going slave. Hosea obeyed God – for God wanted him to take her back as a symbol of His own everlasting love for Israel.
Hosea must have appeared to be a fool to the townspeople. One source I read said, “A prophet called to speak for God to the people often paid a high price to understand God’s heart.” God’s arms are open to us, too, and His love is everlasting! Deuteronomy 33:27 says, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms . . .” Whatever we’ve done or not done, however “low” we have gotten, there is a way back! There are arms to run to! Arms of everlasting love.
Did you know that our emotions do not control or affect God’s love for us? It’s amazing to look into scripture and find out that God’s chosen people were honestly still people! We find them weeping, (II Kings 20:3) at times complaining, (in the wilderness) fearing, (Nehemiah 4:6) hiding (I Kings 17:1-7), running, (Jonah 1:3) doubting, (Thomas, John 20:24-29) repenting, (Peter) believing, (Mary) and through it all we find GOD LOVING! Not one time in scripture have I ever found that God stopped loving. He may have been “angry for a moment,” or had to replace a disobedient servant with an obedient one, but He never stopped loving. His love is everlasting! So, whether we are weeping, complaining, fearing, hiding, running, doubting, repenting, believing, WHATEVER our emotions are at the moment – GOD LOVES US! Yes, He loves You! Yes, He loves me! Even when we don’t understand. Especially when we ache inside with seemingly unbearable pain – He loves us. He wants to help us with our emotions. He doesn’t want to “put us down.” He wants to “lift us up!” And He is so patient so show us the way!
By: Janene Dubbeld/FGG
Take It With You!“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).
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