Scripture: Hosea 11: 8-9
“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. 9 I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man—the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities.
Scripture Commentary:
As a parent there are times that you must take strong measures to discipline your child after so many times of doing something wrong. But your compassion is aroused and your heart isn’t in it. You’ve told them what is wrong about their behavior and they continue to repeat the wrong. This is what God is telling Hosea and us. Turn from your sinful ways so that I, your God, will not have to punish you.
“I am God, and not a man.”
It’s easy to define God in terms of our own expectations and behaviors. This is a mistake. God is our Creator and Savior. We are His children. As our parent, it is His responsibility to correct us when we do wrong.
In reality, God is infinitely greater than we are. We are to become more like Him and not try to make Him into the image that makes us comfortable. God’s discipline is always loving and its object is always the well-being of the beloved.
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