The Tender Love of God

Introduction

Ever been wrong about something but refused to admit that you were wrong? You were convinced in your mind that you were right. You were so sure about being right that you didn’t listen to any other opinions or views. You were so sure about being right that even a close friend’s attempt to get you to see things differently was rejected. What allows a person to continue to believe the wrong thing?

Why did the apostles continue to believe that Jesus was going to rid the nation of Roman influence after he told them over and over again that he had a different mission?

Why did Cain kill his brother even after God’s warning that he was on the verge of doing something that would damage his spiritual life?

Why do we ignore all the warning signs of a bad habit only to continue to indulge in something that is slowly but surely harming us?

Why are we so blind to our own need to change when it is so easy for us to see that others need to change? Why are we so reluctant to admit error? Why are we so reluctant to say “I’m sorry” and to pursue relationship with God and others more? It may be easy to say “pride” or “stubbornness” in answer to these questions. And I would agree, but in the face of clear evidence, why are we so slow to admit that we are wrong? Why do we hang on tenaciously to a view and a direction that is clearly wrong? I want to make sure that from the first, we understand the intent of today’s lesson. God continues to pursue us even if we reject him. In the context of Hosea, Israel rejects God’s overtures and there is an end to God’s patience. He will punish Israel for their choice. But God does not stop pursuing Israel. He does not give up on them. He envisions a time when Israel will once more be his people and that vision is what we will talk about this morning.

Intimacy

Israel has pulled away from God. For 200 years Israel has pursued other gods. The very things that God gave Israel—her gold, silver, food, and material things—were all attributed to other gods. Israel took God’s gifts and used them to honor Baal. In times of prosperity Israel praised Baal and in times of uncertainty they whispered Baal’s name pleading for deliverance. The time has come for God to deal with Israel’s unwillingness to change. God had sent prophets like Elijah, Elisha, Amos, and countless others seeking repentance. These prophets were ignored and despised. God took away prosperity and peace and the people turned to Baal. He gave peace and prosperity and they turned to Baal. With no repentance God is going to punish.

According to verse 13, Israel had forgotten God. The idea is that they no longer allowed God to influence them. They acted as if God wasn’t real. But verse 14 reminds them of a significant truth. Israel may have forgotten God but God didn’t forget Israel. And with the image of one who pursues his love, God speaks of wanting to win back Israel. The word that is used here means to persuade or seduce. God even tells us how he will persuade Israel—He is going to take her back into the wilderness and speak tender words to her. To go back into the wilderness is the idea that God wants to start all over again. He wants to win back Israel’s heart.

Imagine the couple. He cares for her. He loves her. She is uncertain. She breaks things off for a time. She dates others. But he never forgets her. He doesn’t move on. He looks for times to speak to her. He is confident no one loves her more than he does. So whenever they are in the same space, he speaks to her. And his words are always aimed at her heart. In a bygone generation, the man tried to woo that special woman. It was to win her heart. It was a time for the man to persuade that special woman how wonderful she is and to speak words that spoke of devotion and love and commitment. This is what God does. He will turn her trouble into hope. Together they will return to that first commitment made at Sinai.

And the result is found in verse 16. Their relationship will change. There is a significant wordplay here. Baal is a generic name for a false god. It is not the technical name of a god. The technical name is given based upon location or specific requirement. When Israel entered into the promised land they conquered some cities that were named Baal. For instance in Joshua 11:17, Baal Gad is the name of one of the cities that Joshua conquers. In Genesis 36:38, one of Esau’s descendants names his son Baal-hanan meaning lord or god of grace. By the way, this name is found in English language—Hannibal. But this is where the wordplay comes in. Baal can also mean master or to have dominion over. It is also the Hebrew word used to describe marriage especially when the man is viewed as Lord and Master. When a man marries a woman it is said that a man “baals” a woman. What God says in verse 16 is simply this. There is a day coming when the nature of my relationship with Israel will change. It will not be on God’s part but on Israel’s part. No longer will Israel look at God as simply Master and Lord (Baali) but they will regard God as husband. God is going to speak to Israel’s heart in such a way that Israel will see God intimately rather than as something that is transcendent.

What does this mean?

God chases you. It isn’t that God leaves us. We leave God. Like the son in Luke 15, we leave God’s side. We pursue our own ways. Attribute good gifts to our own ingenuity and power. The result is that we leave God. But God never stops chasing you. God is constantly looking for ways to regain your attention. He looks for ways to speak to you. He will bring a person to your life to speak truth for him. He will find ways to momentarily gain your attention. He is constantly speaking to your heart.

God wants to forgive. God does not carry a grudge. God loves you with a pure love. He loves you too much to let you remain in your sin and he loves you so much that he is quick to forgive when you listen to him and change. What makes us so slow to admit that we are wrong and change? I have seen times of reconciliation. There is a beauty that goes beyond words. But the beauty is seen at the end of Hosea 2. God says I am renaming you. You are now called my people and Israel responds with You are Our God. God speaks tender words to you. He wants you to come home. He wants you to admit your sin and return to him. He speaks with tenderness how much he loves you and how much you wants to be in relationship with you. Invitation.

Follow Jesus

If you’d like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.