“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
But the more they were called,
the more they went away from me….
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize it was I who healed them.
I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.
To them I was like one who lifts
a little child to the cheek,
and I bent down to feed them.”
Hosea 11:1-4 (NIV)
I seem to write often about the Fatherhood of God, but I can’t help it, because it’s the central theme of our faith. We read of God as a Father by prophets in the Old Testament and through the teachings of Jesus as well.
It’s a point God kept making, until it sinks in, that He is a Father.
God compares Himself to being a Father to Israel, and the church is the spiritual Israel through the new covenant. There are twelve apostles who started the church just as there were twelve tribes who formed Israel. The people of Israel faithfully keep a Passover feast in remembrance of their deliverance from slavery. The church faithfully keeps their Passover feast through Holy communion, to remember Jesus, who gave us deliverance from slavery to sin and death.
God compares all of His people to children who sometimes grow up and wander away from Him, like a repeat of the prodigal son story. The words of Hosea tell us what God feels toward those wandering children, expressed with the tenderness of paternal love.
He sentimentally recalls how He once taught his child to walk, and lifted him up in His arms, pressing His face against his cheek with tender affection. What a picture of Fatherly love which God directs to all of humanity, both Jew and gentile.
In the prodigal son parable, the father runs toward his long lost son with open arms, instead of waiting with crossed arms, for his boy to return to him. God’s arms are always open and extended toward all of us. Hosea illustrates this image in today’s scripture.
The 19th century English poet, Francis Thompson, wrote a poem, “The Hound of Heaven,” which describes his own rebellious ways and God’s passionate pursuit of him throughout his life. It sounds like Francis ran from God for many years, but he calls God, the Hound of Heaven, who never gave up His pursuit of Francis.
The poem was written in 19th century old English verbiage, and although I read it a few times, I could hardly understand it due to the old English terminology. Then I found a website where Richard Burton recites the entire poem, in his classic oratory style with an English accent. I could feel the meaning of the poem, just by listening to Richard Burton recite it.
A phrase in the poem reminded me of a similar sentiment expressed in Hosea’s words. Francis Thompson described the Hound of Heaven, who pursued him for days and nights all of his life. Then the Hound says to Francis,
”All which I took from thee I did but take, not for thy harms, but just that thou might’st seek it in My arms.”
At first these words are hard to understand, but if I were to paraphrase it, God is saying, “What I took from you was not for harm, but so you’d seek refuge in my arms.”
Anyone who has felt grief or loss in any way, could relate to the words of God asking that we seek refuge in Him. The same Heavenly Father who picks up His child in his arms, and holds his face against His cheek, is the same Hound of Heaven, who told Francis that He causes no harm, but only desires that we seek refuge in His arms.
After the long pursuit of Francis, in conclusion, the Hound of Heaven calls to him, “Rise, clasp my hand and come,” and Francis goes into His Father’s arms.
We can’t always choose the path we end up on, but we can choose to walk it with God, to abide in His refuge, and find our security in His arms. He always was and always will be a loving Father who never stops pursuing each soul, all the days of their life, until they seek refuge in His arms.
Lord, thank you for the tender image of lifting us up and pressing Your cheek on ours, as a loving Father shows affection to His children. With this image in mind, help us pause a moment today and just let You love us. Amen
