God: The Hopeful Husband

 

Hosea 2:14 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
    and bring her into the wilderness,
    and speak tenderly to her.
15 And there I will give her her vineyards
    and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth,
    as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.
16 “And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’

God had watched on as His people repeatedly were unfaithful to Him.  His response? To woo them back, to extend mercy and grace, to make them want to be with Him.  What a picture of how He approaches us in Christ.  Yes, He does point out how our rebellion and sin brings upon us all sorts of consequences, but He also reminds us of His commitment and love.  We have hope because He has hope for us.