Read Hosea 14

The Love Of God

While the southern kingdom of Judah saw righteous men such as Hezekiah ascend to the throne, the northern kingdom was reigned by wicked man after wicked man. Hosea prophesied that the Lord would judge Israel and pleaded with the people to repent. The prophet wrote, “O Israel, return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity” (Hosea 14:1).

How does the Almighty react to His children pleading for forgiveness? “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for my anger has turned away from him” (Hosea 14:4). God wants to forgive the sinner! God wants to restore the erring!

In the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus presents the Father as one who is waiting and watching for the lost one to return to Him. “But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). If you are reading this as a child of God who has wandered back into the world of sin, know that He is patiently waiting for you to come back, and He wants to show compassion and mercy to you and welcome you back to His family!

What must our attitude be toward such restoration? If we are the one who is to be restored, we must recognize the priority God must have in our lives. “What have I to do anymore with idols?” (Hosea 14:8). Anything we put above God becomes an idol; we must restore Him to the proper place in our hearts and in our lives.

Hosea ends his prophecy with these words: “Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them” (Hosea 14:9).

The late brother Homer Hailey wrote concerning this chapter, “Jehovah accomplished this redemption under the Messiah, and today the spiritual Israel of prophecy enjoys the favor of Jehovah and acts as the leavening influence for good in a world of wickedness.” Are you involved with your Christian family? It is more than attending worship services on Sunday. It is encouraging one another, serving one another, helping one another every day. If you are not a member of the Lord’s church, you miss out on so many of His blessings. Walk in the ways of the Lord, for they are right.