The Extremes of God's Love in Patience and Humiliation

Scripture: Hosea 2:7-8

“She will pursue her lovers, but she will not overtake them;
And she will seek them, but will not find them.
Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my first husband,
For it was better for me then than now!’

“For she does not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine and the oil,
And lavished on her silver and gold,
Which they used for Baal.

Insights:   In today’s verses we again see two more aspects of God’s amazing love.  Verse seven reveals to us God’s patience.  Hosea literally is waiting for Gomer to pursue her lovers until she recognizes the false lovers have abandoned her.  In her desperation she determines life was better with Hosea and returns to him.  God, like Hosea, is that patient Father waiting on His prodigal son or daughter, you and me, to return to Him.  At the same time, however, Hosea is active in his pursuit of Gomer.  While he is waiting for her return, he also goes to the house of adultery she is staying and brings her provisions.  You can see the scene as he knocks on the door and when the “man” of the house opens it Hosea introduces himself as Gomer’s husband.  The man steps back, but then Hosea does the unthinkable; he gives the man silver, gold, grain, wine and oil.  He tells him to let Gomer know he loves her and is providing for her, but do you think this vile man of adultery is going to be honorable and tell Gomer from where these current provisions have come?  The answer is a resounding NO!  This man takes full credit and says, “Let’s go worship the Baals with our new found provisions,” and so Gomer is deceived into believing this man is her provider when it was really Hosea.  The same is true of God and us.  We think our jobs or some other means is what provides for our lives, but the truth at the end of the day is the Lord is our provider.  God displayed this ultimate act of humiliation when He left heaven and came to earth in the form of man to pay for our sins.  This single act displays in all His glory God’s amazing love for us. 

Questions:

1.  In what ways have you recognized God’s demonstration of patience toward you while you remained in your sin?

2. In what ways have you recognized God’s humiliation as He has pursued you?

Prayer: Father, I am so grateful You are patient with me.  You lovingly wait on my response to Your drawings and promptings.  You humiliated Yourself in coming to the earth as flesh and bore my cross and shame.  I am unworthy of Your love, but am so thankful You give it to me.  Forgive me for sinning against You and selfishly pursuing my desires.  In the midst of it all, thank You for Your amazing love.  Amen.