We've reached one of the most poignant scenes in the whole of the Bible. Hosea shows us God alone, talking to himself. As we hear the agonising thoughts and feelings of God, we begin to see Him as a broken-hearted Father, grieving over His wayward child, Israel. It is a vivid, tenderly drawn picture.

Look at verse 1: ″When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.″ God is reminiscing, not for the first time (see Hosea 9:10; 10:1). Like a man who finds an orphaned baby, buys him out of slavery, adopts him, and calls him ″my son″, God has done the same with Israel.

He remembers how He has lovingly nursed His infant son, helped him to take his first faltering steps, and applied cream to his bumps and bruises (Hosea 11:3). The New English Bible translates verse 4 like this: ″I harnessed them in leading strings and led them with bonds of love-that I lifted them like a little child to my cheek, that I had bent down to feed them.″ It's a beautiful picture. Here is the Almighty God of the universe bending down to choose a people, love them, train them, and care for them. Here is a generous, gentle, devoted Father.

With such parenting, you would have thought that this child would have turned out brilliantly, wouldn't you? But listen in and discover the sad truth: ″they did not realise it was I who healed them″ (v. 3). God is saying: ″They don't appreciate it. The more I call their name, the further they go away from me and settle in the arms of other gods″ (v. 2, paraphrased).

Perhaps you know the pain of rejected love. You can be the most considerate, patient, loving parent, spouse or child, and still your loved one turns against you. Hosea knew that. Can you believe that God knows how that feels too?

We also learn here just how awful sin is. We tend to think of it as an impersonal breach of the rules, but that's wrong. To sin is to turn your back on the God who loves you. It is to hurt and grieve Him.

Almighty God, thank you for being my Heavenly Father. Thank you for your great love to me. Help me to love you. In the name of Christ, amen.