Hosea 6:1-3
Let’s return to the Lord.
He has torn us to shreds,
but he will bandage our wounds
and make us well.
In two or three days
he will heal us
and restore our strength
that we may live with him.
Let’s do our best
to know the Lord.
His coming is as certain
as the morning sun;
he will refresh us like rain
renewing the earth
in the springtime.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our
cats somewhat “chose sides” more than a decade ago. It started when we
got a big television that apparently made some sort of noise that
scared Lucy. She preferred that I watch TV in our bedroom, where she
would happily join me on the bed and lie pressed against my side... on
her back – and often with all four legs in the air! Mabel was perfectly
content to stay with Greg and enjoy his attention as she curled up on
the footrest of his recliner. When we moved into a two-story house, and
Greg established an office space upstairs, Mabel somewhat became the
“upstairs cat”, while Lucy is never very far from me downstairs.
So
when Greg and a neighbor took an overnight motorcycle trip, poor little
Mabel was more than a bit lost. She hung out with Lucy and me
downstairs...but sometimes she roamed the house and cried as she looked
for her “other owner”. She brought a toy mouse, hoping that Greg would
appear and praise her. She stood up on the back door and pawed toward
the handle, thinking he must surely be in the garage. And when I went
upstairs to check on her once, she was curled atop a pair of Greg’s
jeans. I stroked her face and cooed to her in a soothing tone and
assured her that he would be back very soon...and that all would be
well. If she could just hang on and take a little snooze, her buddy
would be home before she knew it.
In this passage from Hosea, you
really need to read Chapter 5 first to understand these verses. The
people of Israel have been sinful and terribly disobedient, and God has
allowed them to suffer as a result. In Hosea 5:13-16, we read...”
Israel was brutally crushed. They got what they deserved for worshiping
useless idols. Now I, the Lord, will fill Israel with maggots and make
Judah rot. When Israel and Judah saw their sickness and wounds, Israel
asked help from Assyria and its mighty king.” So the words of the first
verses in Chapter 6 are those of the Israelites, who have realized that
they caused their own suffering. But they also recognize that God will
forgive them...heal and restore them...if only they will turn back to
Him. He will return and make them well.
In our own ways, you and I
have been as sinful and disobedient as the Israelites. It’s a wonder
that God has not grown as disgusted with us and allowed us to be “filled
with maggots and rot”. Amazingly, God provided us with a covenant in
the form of the blood of Jesus. And while we may experience temporary
discomfort (and it may even seem like God is crushing us!), we can call
on Him to save us by Jesus’ blood, and He will rescue and restore us.
This may happen quickly – or we may not fully be refreshed and renewed
until Jesus greets us in heaven. But all who earnestly call on the name
of Jesus are guaranteed forgiveness and healing.
Our sweet little
calico cat did nothing to deserve the feelings of loneliness and
desertion she experienced. Mabel will “get over it” quickly, and in a
few days, she will have totally forgotten that she and Greg were ever
separated. On the other hand, we have done plenty to alienate ourselves
from God and disappoint Him. The love, grace and mercy He demonstrates
to us is truly inexplicable...but nonetheless welcome!
The
thought of God “bandaging our wounds, and making us well” is like a
healing balm to my soul. The promise of Jesus waiting in heaven to
welcome us with open arms for all eternity gives me strength and courage
for this earthly journey. I know that He is coming for me
someday...and this motivates me to turn to Him and let Him make me
well. What about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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