God's Longing

Scripture:

Hosea 7:13  "Woe to them, because they have strayed from me!  Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me!  I long to redeem them but they speak about me falsely".

Observation:

God is speaking here to Ephraim, who had turned their backs on him and began living totally against the will and ways of God.  He tells them that destruction is coming because of what they had done in their rebellion.  In the same verse though, God says, "I long to redeem them but they speak about me falsely".

Application:

Even when God punishes His people, it is with a heart of redemption.  He longs to redeem us when we walk away from Him.  He longs to bring us back into right relationship with Him when we stray away.  He longs for us to walk with Him so that He can bless us.  Sometimes we tie God's hands from blessing us because of our disobedience.  He desires to bless his children and to prosper them, but obedience in required.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for demonstrating how much you love your people. You always seek restoration and your desire is always to bless and redeem your people, even when your people fail you and walk away from You.  Thank you for never leaving us nor forsaking us.  Thank You for always chasing us down when we go our own way.

Yours,
Jeff