“8How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. 9I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.” – Hosea 11:8-9 (ESV)
As I read these verses this morning, I was reminded of the human elements that God presents. It appears in these verses that he is wrestling with how to further deal with Ephraim (Judah). In earlier verses, and we know, Israel constantly was turning away from God. They worshipped Baals and idols. God had every right, as human, to walk away and choose a more loyal, appreciative, and righteous people. He defines his discipline and then gives his love.
I am continuously in awe of God’s love for me in all my sinfulness. I am reminded here that God has human elements to himself that allows him to identify with me. I have to remember that even though God identifies with me, God is not human in our likeness.
The commentary for verse 9 in my New International Version (NIV) Bible indicates that we have a tendency to think of God “just slightly larger than ourselves.” “In reality, God is infinitely greater than we are.” O how I get that mixed up. We are emotional beings in the likeness of God, not the other way around.
Remembering that I was created in the image of God, gives me new perspective as I think about God’s emotional love for us. I know that I am emotional with my love and as a human, it is difficult for me to control those emotions. Here in Hosea, I am reminded of the emotional love that God has, and how he is so different. God understands and controls his emotion whereas we are more reactive.
When things get tough do you act on your emotions? Are you able to sit back and think it out and act as God, or do those emotions of the situation take over? Are you remembering that you are made in the likeness of God, or are you trying to fit him into your likeness?
Trevor's Thoughts 