God Bending Down — A LifeWords Devotion

Many parents know the piercing pain of having their children turn away from them. All the attempts to lead them in the right way only seem to have pushed them the wrong way. The love poured into them seems to bear no fruit. Such are the inbuilt perils of love and such are the consequences of human freedom. To love is to be open to pain; to be free is to be open to do good and do evil.

God knows this situation all to well. Here he reflects on his love for his people (Ephraim is another word for Israel). He got them out of Egypt and into the promised land. And the thanks he got was increasing idolatry, spasmodic attempts at obedience, and an ongoing spiritual adultery. God sees his people as infants whom he taught to walk, and whom he fed and generally cared for. The language is one of gentle tenderness. He bends down to feed his people, he lifts them to his cheek, perhaps to reassure or comfort them. This is no distant deity or tyrannical despot. This is a loving father: this is our God.

Another image present is that of his people being like valued animals. He ensures the yoke and the harnesses are not burdensome or irritating. He is no sadistic taskmaster whipping us into more activity. He doesn’t beat us into obedience, he rather takes us by the hand, releases our burdens, bends down to pick us up, and in so doing invites us to go his way rather than our own rebellious way.

Then and now we don’t always listen. Hosea goes on to record a message of judgement on those who spurn such love. And more significantly, goes on to record a message of hope and salvation to those who will turn back into the Father’s arms. And why would we not want to turn back to a God who bends down to pick us up and who nurtures us and leads us to our true destiny in him?

Blessings,