Good Morning Friends,
“‘How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I
hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like
Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will
not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God,
and not man -- the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath. They will
follow the LORD; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will
come trembling from the west. They will come trembling like birds from Egypt,
like doves from Assyria. I will settle them in their homes,’ declares the
LORD.” (Hosea 11:8-11)
God never delights in wrath. He is the God of
compassion and always longs to forgive those who turn from Him. He patiently
waits for His people to come to Him in repentance. Over and over again, Israel
had rejected the Lord. Over and over again, the Lord waited patiently for them
to come back to Him. He withheld His wrath in the hope that they would turn
again to Him.
That doesn’t mean His patience will never run
out. It will. It did for Israel. His wrath did eventually come upon Israel. Although,
even then it would be devastating punishment not designed to destroy them, but
designed to wake the people up and cause them to return to Him.
Look around and see how much people have
rejected the Lord. Understand how patient God has been with the people of the
world. His wrath has been withheld. His punishment is delayed. He longs for
people to return to Him. He will wait generations for it to happen. “The Lord
is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient
with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2
Peter 3:9)
God wants His people to have that same kind
of compassion and patience. We know the world is in sad shape because of its
sin and its rejection of God. Don’t respond in anger or hatred -- God doesn’t! Respond
with patience and a longing to see them return to Him.
His, by Grace,
Steve
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