Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, `You are not my people,' they will be called `sons of the living God.' 11 The people of Judah and the people of Israel will be reunited, and they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel. 1 "Say of your brothers, `My people,' and of your sisters, `My loved one.' Hosea1:10-2:1
Hosea has built a strong case.
He has convincingly shown just cause why God should cut ties with Israel. They have been violent, rebellious, hard-hearted and fully deserving of being scattered, not-loved, and disowned (not-my-people).
But there is a "Yet..."
Israel fully deserves judgement YET God promises mercy, restoration and forgiveness.
The not-my-people and the not-loved will be fruitful, numerous and united.
Jezreel - the place of violence and scattering - will be great.
The disowned will be called 'sons of the living God' and the unloved will be known as the loved one.
This is the unexpected and wonderful reality of Grace.
Grace is unearned, undeserved, and unwarranted.
It is not something we can claim or demand - it is something God does because it says something about Him and not us.
We are loved, claimed and redeemed.
Not because we have earned it or have a right to it, but because God is "unexpectedly" and "unpredictably" good. He does not have to be good - we didn't deserve it. He does not have to show us mercy - we deserve judgement - but with God there is a YET...!
Hallelujah!
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
