There are certain things about life that, for probably the most part, appear to be they need to be experienced to be learned and fully appreciated. Relationships are actually one in every of those examples.
As a baby, I needed to learn what it means to be obedient to my superiors. As I grew slightly bit older, I learned more about self-control and the character of my relationship with myself. When I began dating and eventually got married, I learned quite a bit about what it means to think concerning the needs of another person. Then, after I became a father, I learned more about sacrificial and unconditional love than ever before.
Becoming a father has also helped me understand certain facets of God’s nature that weren’t quite as clear to me during earlier seasons of life. When I read portions of God’s word that talk of His love for His children, regardless that they could hurt Him, speak sick of Him, or rebel against Him, that makes more sense to me now than it did after I was a baby.
God’s patience with me, as I even have been progressively growing as a person of God, has also taught me more concerning the importance of being patient with my very own children. He has given me time to grow, and He didn’t hand over on me too soon. I’m called to like the people God has brought into my life with patience that resembles His.
In the eleventh chapter of the book of Hosea, God speaks of Israel as His child. He loved them, cared for them, and provided for them, but they tested His patience again and again. How did God respond? Did He hand over on them, or did He hold out hope for a future day of restoration?
“When Israel was a baby, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” -Hosea 11:1
An interesting statement is made firstly of Hosea 11. It’s an announcement that has spiritual significance on not less than two fronts. It’s actually true that through the days of the Exodus, the Lord, who loved Israel, called them out of Egypt and raised up Moses to steer them toward the Promised Land.
This verse has even greater spiritual significance once we observe the earthly ministry of Jesus because it was recorded in Matthew’s gospel. The Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to cite from this passage to make it clear that it found its ultimate success in Jesus.
And he rose and took the kid and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to meet what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” -Matthew 2:14-15
The history of the people of Israel is one in every of God’s miraculous provision and kindness, followed by their stubbornness and rejection. They rejected Jesus when He and His disciples proclaimed the gospel of salvation amongst them. Likewise, they rejected the prophets who got here before them, preparing the way in which for the Messiah. When given the chance to worship the true and living God, they worshipped false gods as a substitute.
“The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they didn’t know that I healed them.” -Hosea 11:2-3
Yet regardless that the people of Israel proceed to do that, the Lord refuses to present up on them. His love for them stays, just as a parent continues to like a stubborn child. Many of us can testify to the love we were shown in our seasons of revolt and distance, and there are a few of us who’re presently working to point out patience and love toward children who don’t exactly make it easy. The Lord understands.
“My persons are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up in any respect. How can I provide you with up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel?” -Hosea 11:7-8
I’m grateful that the Lord doesn’t hand over on His people. This world is full of all types of temperamental and conditional relationships, but that isn’t how God operates. His love is an unchanging aspect of His perfect nature. He not only shows love, He is the perfection of affection, and He wasn’t willing to present up on Ephraim (Israel). There’s quite a bit we are able to learn from His example on this passage.
In fact, the day is coming when the kindness and compassion of the Lord will bear visible fruit among the many people of Israel. We live during a season when, by and enormous, they’ve rejected their Messiah, Jesus Christ. But the day is coming when they’ll understand that He is God who took on flesh and walked amongst them. He is coming again to rule and reign. Every knee will bow to Him and each tongue will confess that He is Lord. The Holy Spirit alludes to that day when He speaks through the prophet in Hosea 11:10-11.
“They shall go after the Lord; he’ll roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west; they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria, and I’ll return them to their homes, declares the Lord.” -Hosea 11:10-11
I’m grateful for what the Lord reveals about Himself and His heart on this passage. I’m grateful for His example of patience with His rebellious children and holding out real hope for his or her eventual restoration. But this isn’t the one example of God’s patience with a rebellious child that we’re given in Scripture. In fact, the opening chapter of the New Testament book of 1 Timothy grants us an inside glimpse of the restorative work God delights to do within the lives of those He has called unto Himself. There we discover the non-public testimony of the apostle Paul…
1. God has a plan that he’s carrying out to the purpose of completion.
“I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service.” – 1 Timothy 1:12
The book of 1 Timothy is one in every of the “pastoral epistles.” It’s a book full of advice from Paul, a seasoned church leader, to Timothy, a young pastor. Paul desired to make it clear to Timothy that God was carrying out a divinely orchestrated plan, and Paul was grateful to be a part of it. Even though Paul had spent loads of years rejecting Jesus and dealing against Him, the Lord was graciously willing to make use of Paul’s life for noble purposes.
2. You don’t need to remain who or the way you once were.
“Though formerly I used to be a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief.” -1 Timothy 1:13
Hosea speaks of Israel as a individuals who blasphemed the Lord’s name, worshipped idols, and opposed that which was holy. In many respects, Paul describes his formative years in similar terms. He calls himself a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent of God’s people and the spread of the gospel.
But please notice a key word Paul uses as he describes himself in such terms. Paul uses the word “formerly.” What he was saying was that in Jesus, we’re made a latest creation. We don’t need to remain who or how we once were.
3. The grace and mercy of Jesus are powerful forces.
“And the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Timothy 1:14
There are people on this world that I even have given all the recommendation I do know the way to give, and regardless that that advice was good and solid, it didn’t change their hearts or behaviors. Maybe you’ve experienced something similar with a baby, friend, spouse, or other member of the family. Thankfully, there’s an influence that’s greater than our greatest counsel.
The grace and mercy of Jesus change people in miraculous ways. I might contend that for an individual to experience true and lasting change, that change cannot happen aside from the intervention of His grace. Pray for the grace and mercy of Christ to miraculously intervene within the lives of those that could also be headed in an unwise or blasphemous direction.
4. Even the worst sinner may be rescued and transformed.
“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus got here into the world to save lots of sinners, of whom I’m the foremost. But I received mercy because of this, that in me, because the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for instance to those that were to consider in him for everlasting life.” – 1 Timothy 1:15-16
Who is the worst person you already know? Odds are, you may have the opportunity to reply that query quite quickly. During a very rebellious season of my childhood, my mother went to a parent-teachers’ conference at our college and one in every of my teachers told my mother, “Your son is the worst student I even have ever had on this class.” I’m certain my mother wasn’t thrilled to listen to that said of her child, but based on my behavior, I feel pretty confident that statement was true.
During Paul’s generation, there have been many individuals who remembered him from his earlier days that considered him as one in every of the worst people that they had ever met. Paul even said of himself that he was the foremost of sinners who needed the gift of salvation through Jesus.
Having received that gift from Jesus, Paul believed that the transformation Jesus completed inside him would serve for instance to others who would likewise consider in Jesus for everlasting life.
5. God deserves the glory for the miraculous work He accomplishes within the lives of lost people.
“To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the one God, be honor and glory without end and ever. Amen.” – 1 Timothy 1:17
When God transforms Israel and brings them back to Him, He alone will deserve the glory for that miraculous act. He deserves the glory for the transformation that took place in Paul’s life, in my life, and in your life. And as our minds take into consideration a few of the rebellious children on this world who at present are attempting to run from God as a substitute of running toward Him, He will receive the glory for his or her repentance and transformation as well.
If God can transform idolatrous Israel, blasphemous Paul, rebellious me, and faithless you, He can do the identical for the rebels that we love as well. Never stop praying for the miraculous intervention of Christ’s mercy and beauty of their lives. In God’s perfect timing, you’ll witness the reply to your prayers.
© John Stange, 2025. Originally published by Bible Study Headquarters. Used with permission.
Photo Courtesy: ©Pexels/Monstera Production
John Stange is the Lead Pastor at Core Creek Community Church and a professor at Cairn University where he leads the Digital Media and Communication program. He also leads an internet community called Platform Launchers where he helps people construct message-based online platforms.
John has authored over 30 books and presently hosts several podcasts on the LifeAudio podcast network. His shows have been downloaded tens of millions of times by listeners throughout the world.
You can learn more about John’s ministry, books, and podcasts at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com.
