Do you consider the Lord to be weak? Perhaps you have never thought of that before. Most of us would answer an outright, “No!” without even thinking about it. We tend to look at people who exhibit this kind of action as weak in our twisted society. God shows us His strength when He displays mercy. Here in Hosea, God had every right to judge, destroy and relinquish any relationship with Israel. Yet in the midst of His ponderings, He says that His heart is moving within Him. He decides that He will not pour out the fierceness of His anger upon them. Why? Because He is God, and not man.
When we give vent to our harsher emotions, God is able to yet look beyond the immediate and see the future. He is able to look in love and mercy when we would simply scream, “Off with their heads!” Do you call that weakness? I don’t. I call it more mercy than I can comprehend. I call it a greater understanding of life and love and the long term than I know.
Thank God for His great mercy! Thank Him for the fact that He does NOT give us what we deserve. Thank Him for His holiness which causes Him to act in ways which bring His Name honor and glory!
