For a time both the northern and southern kingdoms enjoyed increased trade and great wealth, but society was corrupt. Although the Israelites gave up their idols and returned to the God of their heritage, their worship of him was a sham. The nation recognized it was favored by God, but all the while it abused the privileges and ignored the responsibilities. In the midst of great luxury, the poor remained. The people’s sacrifices were numerous but meaningless. Even their right actions weren’t matched by right hearts.

“When I called the people of Israel, they went away from me.They offered sacrifices to the Baals and burned incense to the idols. It was I who taught Israel to walk, and I took them by the arms, but they did not understand that I had healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ropes of love. I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down and fed them....“Israel, how can I give you up? How can I give you away, Israel? ...My heart beats for you, and my love for you stirs up my pity.I won’t punish you in my anger, and I won’t destroy Israel again. I am God and not a human; I am the Holy One, and I am among you. Hosea 11:2-9

    During the rule of another man named Jeroboam, the prophet Amos reminded the people that God is not blind to or unconcerned about injustice. The prophet boldly condemned the greed and immorality of the people and their heartless treatment of the poor. He warned, God would not merely punish them as he had in the past, but he would virtually destroy them as a nation.

    Amos’s prophecy was soon fulfilled as Assyria invaded the northern kingdom and carried it off into captivity, Hosea, a prophet contemporary with Amos, also delivered God’s warnings — and in a most dramatic and unusual way. God used Hosea’s relationship with his unfaithful wife to symbolize God’s relationship with unfaithful Israel. Just as Hosea took his wife back after she was unfaithful, God loved Israel and would take her back and forgive her, even after she rejected and dishonored him.

Reflection: God rescued and tutored and guided and healed his people like a devoted father. In return he asked that his children love and obey him — to honor him as father — but they failed on every count.

    God loved Israel with an unrelenting love, as a husband loves his wife, forgiving her and taking her back even though she ran after others. He longed for the time he could lift her up and bring out the best in her, but she rejected him.

    How could Israel turn away from such love? How could we?

Text copyright © 1997, Multnomah Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Title: "Unrelenting Love"
Author: Ron Rose
Publication Date: August 16, 2001

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