Happy Valentines day everyone! Whether you’re spending it with a special someone or spending it listening to Love Songs playlists on Spotify (like I am), I hope you’re constantly reminded of the love of your friends, family, and heavenly Father today.
For the past few days, and in the coming weeks, I’ve been reading through the minor prophets of the Old Testament. So I started with Hosea and I’ll end with Malachi sometime in the next month or two.
Hosea starts off with God basically venting to Hosea about how angry He is with the Israelites. These dudes totally turned their backs to God. They saw miracles in the desert, were given manna from heaven, and STILL managed to forget everything God had done for them just a few generations later. And God was not happy. ‘Disappointed’ puts it lightly. God was PEEVED. And he really lets Hosea have an earful. Threats and judgements come pouring down on Israel. I mean, these dudes are about to get it BAD. They’ve been doing some pretty icky stuff, even after everything God had given to them.
But in chapter 11, everything switches. In Hosea chapter 11, verse 8, God says
“How can I give you up Ephriam? How can I hand you over, Israel? … My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.”
Bam. God just let it go. He had every reason to go completely bonkers on these guys. He spent the last 11 chapters speaking to Hosea about how angry He was, how Israel had another thing comin’ thanks to all their wickedness. And right there, in a few verses, He lets it all go.
God forgives. He loves. Unconditionally. He could’ve let Israel get what was coming to them. He could have let me and you and all of us get exactly what we deserved. But for some crazy reason, He didn’t. He forgave us. He sent us a way out. He sent his own son. Because He loved us SO STINKIN’ MUCH!
It absolutely blows my mind how much God loves us. And I hope that you’re reminded of that in some way today, be it because of the kind gifts of your friends and family or just a really well timed Smiths song.
God loves you.
