Our Father

Hosea 10-12; Psalms 73; Hebrews 4 

“’It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.’” [‘To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.’]

Hosea 11:3, 4

The Creator of the universe is also the gentle nurturing Father of Ephraim. The image of a father patiently teaching his child to walk reminds us of God’s instruction through Moses to learn his ways and walk in his truth. The image of a father lifting a little child to his cheek in a loving embrace is so intimate that few of us would describe God that way. Yet, that is his invitation to us in Christ.

Are we aware of God’s gentleness with us despite our rebellion and sin?

Will we lift up our arms and ask our Father to pick us up?

Will we open wide our mouth so our Father can feed us from his Word?

Do we know our heavenly Father in intimacy, or in religious rituals?

“Father, thank you for loving me, holding me, lifting me up, feeding me, and making me your child, for your glory.”