BaptistWay Bible Series for April 8: The wideness of God’s love

 • Download a powerpoint resource for this lesson here.

God’s love is a great topic for Easter Sunday. The Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 5:8 and John’s words in John 3:16 teach God’s love for humanity was demonstrated in Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross. Jesus’ resurrection trumpets the triumph of God’s love. God’s love for people, especially his covenant people, is communicated frequently throughout the Bible. Amid all this conversation comes Hosea 11—Hosea’s love chapter.

Hosea’s first three chapters are famous for the story of Hosea’s marriage. Missing from those chapters are Hosea’s personal words to his wife. One only can speculate how Hosea expressed his love for her.

Chapter 11, however, speaks of the Lord’s grand love for Israel and the tragic abandonment of his love by his people. Chapter 11 becomes, then, the lament of tragic love. The Lord’s love is strong and communicated in the deep emotional cries of heartbreak over a departing beloved one.

The first section of chapter 11 tells of the Lord’s affection for Israel in the way that fathers reminisce about their children when they were young. The first line of the verse uses the word “child,” which has a relationally distant quality to it. The line states the Lord loved his child, Israel.

The second line substitutes the relationally close term “son.” The parallel, or explanatory, concept to God’s loving his child is the calling of his son out of Egypt. This “calling” was far more than mere words. God extracted Israel from Egyptian slavery, set him free and gave him land for his residence. All this activity was motivated by God’s love for Israel.

Hosea 11:1 parallels the messages in Romans 5:8 and John 3:16 in that redemptive deliverance was motivated by God’s love for his people. The Lord’s love is shown again in verse 3 with the teaching of Ephraim to walk. Ephraim was the representative tribe of the northern kingdom as Judah was in the south. Verse 4 underscores God’s love for Israel with two more images of the intimate handling of a child. Nevertheless, despite the Lord’s tender love, Israel abandoned God and turned to foreign gods (v. 2).

The second section of God’s message of tragic love, verses 5-7, describes Israel’s obstinate decision to turn from God. Turning from the Lord (apostasy) removed Israel from God’s protective care. The result was warfare (v. 6: “a sword will flash”) that even consumed false prophets—a sign the Baals could not protect their people or their spokesmen.

The remedy for apostasy is turning to the Lord (repentance). Verses 4 and 6 lament Israel’s determination not to repent. Thus, the nation is doomed to perish. The Lord will not provide for those in rebellion, even though they superficially acknowledge Him as the “most high” (v. 7). The people said in effect, “The Lord is the most high, and we serve the less high.” They covered their bases by venerating the Lord and the Baals. God, however, demanded exclusive access to the hearts of his people. The people acted like Hosea’s wife, juggling many lovers, but God, like Hosea, wanted the exclusive loyalty and commitment of Israel.

The third section of chapter 11 expresses the Lord’s ragged emotions over losing his beloved people. Compassion-borne pain oozes from verse 8. Resolve to curtail anger arises in verse 9. Determination to call and provide for his true children is declared in verses 10-11.

Admah and Zeboiim were lesser known cities destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah. Their mention here shows the clarity and fullness of God’s judgment. Though these people were not the Lord’s covenant people, the Lord has no pleasure in their deaths. Ezekiel repeatedly makes this point (Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 33:11).

Nevertheless, Israel was God’s covenant people. His heart was given to his people. Now that great, grand, divine heart was breaking.

Note that God’s heartbreak increased his compassion for his people and curtailed his anger toward them. One of God’s great characteristics is that his love always controls his anger. Thus, Jesus went to the cross to present an atoning sacrifice instead of destroying all of humanity with a raging, out-of-control anger.

God’s people must emulate their Father by allowing love to prevail, even in the most heartbreaking situations. This anger is the reaction of heartbroken love. Love must control its own disappointments. Understanding and controlling anger are important in God’s kingdom. The first fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22). Among the acts of the flesh are fits of rage (Galatians 5:20). Following the Lord’s example, believers must never allow anger and heart-rending disappoints to move them from godly character to worldly character.

Hosea 14:1-2 delivers the Lord’s advice: Repent. The Lord wants his beloved people to cease their sinful ways and return to him. He is willing to forgive. Verse 2 encourages the pursuit of forgiveness. Thus Hosea connects repentance to forgiveness. The implicit promise is that God forgives those who repent.

Repentance means turning from sinfulness and turning to God. It is a change of focus and heart. Such heart change must precede change of action and it makes all the difference to the Lord. External acts of devotion are far less impressive to the Lord, especially if they do not express heart sentiment. Yet a repentant heart moves the Lord. An example can be found in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14.

The wideness of the Lord’s love is seen in that he calls his people even when they have turned from him. Further, he is willing to forgive them when they repent.