I find that once I get teaching on the subject of God's grace it's hard to get off. Grace has become the most transforming characteristic of God in my life as I study and receive it's eternal depths. It seems that when my heart is fixed on God's grace I become aware of it everywhere I read in scripture, even in the book of Hosea.

The book of Hosea (one of those you don't read often) chronicles the personal and the prophetic life of a prophet by the name of Hosea. For seven chapters God uses Hosea to tell the people of the coming judgment for their sin. The people of Israel in the Northern Kingdom had strayed from following God and His commandments. They were worshipping false idols and having no remorse for their outright rebellious sin. This rebellion demanded judgment. God had every right to give them over to their sin and remove his mercy from their future. But even amidst the depth of Israel's depravity and rebellion God was moved by compassion.

""When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. It was I who taught Ephraim(Israel) to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them." (Hosea 11:1,3,4)

I pray for my son every night that we will always have a good relationship of mutual love and companionship. I love to teach him new things and help him grow. As I read these words in Hosea I can began to feel the pain of what it would be like someday for my son to turn his back on all that I have done for him and to rebel against me. I am moved by the incredible pain that God must have felt when the entire nation of His children that He cared for, protected, and raised turned their backs on his love. It only seems right for a father to turn the cold shoulder and be justified on giving up on his son in this case.

Several verses later however God continues to express his gracious love: "How can I give you up Ephraim(Israel)? How can I hand you over, Israel?...My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused." No one would blame God for giving Israel what they deserved, but God decides to respond with the compassion of a lovesick father. Just like the father in the Prodigal Son parable that Jesus tells much later in the book of Luke, God chooses to respond to rebellion with grace.

I must admit this reaction of God to Israel's rebellion, and the reaction of the father in the parable to the shameful son, are surprising. When I find the humility to place myself in the narrative however an overwhelming need and appreciation for this kind of grace runs deep within my heart. I become fully aware that I too like Israel have turned my back on God. I too have sinned against his ways. I too have tried to worship other things. I too have neglected that it was He who created me, raised me, protected me, and gave me new life. I too am in desperate need of a lovesick father. I'm in need of a father who won't give up on me and who is moved by compassionate grace to restore me once again into His arms.

Even though it seems unimaginable, I know that is the kind of Father God is and the kind I hope to be some day.

"Oh to grace how great a debtor!"

-Josh