“I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them” (Hosea 11:4).
Here is a definitive statement as to God’s power to draw men through love. The context of this verse addresses the Lord’s care over Israel from Egypt until the present. The problem with Ephraim is “they knew not that I healed them” (Hosea 11:3). Humanity today is the recipient of God’s love and should appreciate all that such entails. Consider three aspects of God’s drawing power of love.
1. Love and Being. The starting point of all life is with God. Paul stated, “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things” (Acts 17:24-25). John wrote of the worship of God by the twenty-four elders in heaven, where they said, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev. 4:11). It was the choice of God to bring all things created, including humanity, into being. Such love should make one thankful for the Creator.
2. Love and Benevolence. The sustaining point of all life is with God. David wrote, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who health all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Ps. 103:2-5). Paul wrote concerning redemption, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). John wrote in like manner, “In this is manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10). Paul wrote to the Corinthians about this love and man’s response to it, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:14-15).
3. Love and Belonging. The sweetest point of all life is with God. John wrote, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not” (1 John 3:1). When one is baptized into Christ, he is placed into the relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (cf. Matt. 28:19). The Lord does not merely desire to save a person “from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10) but also desires to have the saved as family. Paul wrote, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:17-18). God’s love is such that to the saved “God is not ashamed to be called their God” (Heb. 1:16).
Jimmy Clark