Seeking God's Face

Hosea chapter 5 describes the punishment that Israel has coming to them. Looking from the perspective of a father, it is difficult to bear. No father desires to do what God is about to do to Israel. Regardless of the pain involved, it is for the good of the nation. God desperately wants a relationship with his chosen people, but they are so far from him that they don't even know of him. In vs. 2 it says, "And the revolters have gone deep into slaughter, but I will discipline all of them." When a father properly disciplines his child, it is done in love and out of a heart of restoration. If God did not love Israel and if God did not want to restore fellowship with Israel, He would have just left them to their own wicked devices. They would have destroyed themselves eventually. Vs. 4 tells of the depth of their fall. It says, "Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not the Lord." When I was growing up, I would often find myself under judgement. The consequences would be coming and an apology was not sufficient. According to vs. 6, Israel has arrived in a similar situation. "With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the Lord, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them." There was no sacrifice that could atone for their sins. It was too late; judgement was on its way. Vs. 10 says, "upon them I will pour out my wrath like water." Never doubt for a second the depth and magnitude of God's love. Micah 7:18, "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love." It is becasue of his steadfast love that he pours out his wrath like water. It is not to be confused for hate. Vs. 14 describes the judgement. "For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear and go away; I will carry off, and no one shall rescue." Like a lion going after a meal God will devastate the nation and leave them to waste. Vs. 15, "And I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me." When I recieved judgment from my father, it did not make everything better. The punishment in itself did not restore the relationship. If I don't make things right with my dad, their will never be any relationship. I need to make things right with my dad. I have been sitting here wondering how long it will take for Israel to repent, and I need to do the same. It has been much too long since I have had a right relationship with my dad. All these years I blamed him, thinking that he wasn't good to me. I doubted how much he loves me. Of course my dad isn't God, but he faithfully did his part in discipline. Now it's my turn.