Sermon Snippet – Our Father’s Unfailing Love – Part II
INTRODUCTION – Last week from Hosea 11, we found that our Savior God reveals Himself to be a kind husbandman, a faithful husband, and a loving Father (verses 3-4). This imagery helps us to better understand Who God is. The evocative, intimate language of verse 8 must also be carefully considered: “How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, O Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within Me, My repentings are kindled together.”
1. GOD IS IMMUTABLE
The Bible is clear that God does not change (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; Hebrews 13:8). We should be grateful for this absoluteness of character. We should also recognize, logically, that if God could change He could change only for the worse and thus could not be God. The modern heresy called the “openness of God” or “process theology” falsely interprets words like “repentings” as meaning that God changes His mind. Rather, it reveals a genuine emotional response of sorrow over man’s need – and, often, failure – to repent. The New King James Version helpfully translates the end of verse 8 as, “My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred.” Rather than indicating alteration, then, this passage reveals the complete commitment of love that God has for His people. “Israel” (and “Ephraim” is a synonym for Israel, also) deserved to be destroyed like Admah” and Zeboim,” cities judged along with Sodom and Gomorrah. However, the immutability of God guarantees that His other attributes (His perfections) are guarded from any change. Thus, His love for us cannot fail, even when we do fail.
2. GOD IS IMPRESSIVELY IMPASSIVE
When we speak of being impassive, we are usually saying that someone is stoic, unemotional. When this description is applied to God, though, it means that He is not governed by emotions; rather, He governs them. Clearly, God possesses emotions, as verse 8 overtly states. Theologians say that He has sensibility – that is, the capacity to experience and express emotions. A notable example is found in Matthew 23:37. Here, Jesus Christ, God the Son, openly vocalizes His affection for Jerusalem – the very place where He would be cruelly crucified.
3. GOD’S IMMUTABILITY AND IMPASSIVITY HAVE IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR US
Each believer in Jesus as Savior has an eternal relationship with Him. Nothing should be more valuable to us than this relationship of everlasting love. In simple terms, we should seek with all our hearts not to hurt the “heart” of our Savior God. I do not want His huge heart to churn because of me; I do not want to grieve Him (see Ephesians 4:30a – “grieve not the Holy Spirit of God”). What is true of our relationship with Him should inform all of our relationships. It is instructive that the immediate context of Ephesians 4:30 focuses on human relationships (verses 26-29, 31-32). Clearly, if we are hurting others, we are hurting (but not changing) God.
CONCLUSION – The alternative to taking advantage of others (and, by extension, taking advantage of God) is to adopt the attitude of Jesus. We must determine decisively that we will never use nor abuse another. Instead, let us seek a life of steady service to others, especially to those close to us. If we are truly committed to our relationship with Jesus, then we will find fulfillment and genuine joy in being committed to others. May we be motivated by the unfailing, committed love of our Savior.