The Father's Heart

I've been reading in Hosea. And it's a lot about the wrath of God for the iniquity of Israel and his son, Ephraim: all of their mistakes and the punishment that will come. I have enjoyed it because it has a lot to do with justice, which I desire a lot. But it hasn't been one of the more encouraging books of the Bible I've read. And then yesterday I got to chapter 11. In this chapter you see God's heart for Israel and Ephraim. He says how He loved him when he was a child, how He called him out of Egypt. He says how he taught Ephraim how to walk. .. "I led them with cords of kindness, with bands of love." But they turned away and would not return to their God. "My people are bent on turning away from me.." And though He desired for them to return so much, they had chosen other things and so the Lord had to give them up to those things, but His heart for them was strong.

"How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within Me.
My compassion grows warm and tender.
I will not execute my burning anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and not man..."

Once again I am astonished at the Father’s heart for His children.

Admah and Zeboiim were two cities that were destroyed in Sodom and Gomorrah.

And even though Ephraim and Israel deserved the same destiny, God could not bear it. He loved them so much, that He chose to forgive the unforgivable.
I can’t get over that line “..My heart recoils within me..” another version says “My heart churns within me..”

Our Father longs to be with His children.

So for the prodigals:

...He waits.