AN ALL-IMPORTANT THREE LETTER WORD

Yet the number of the sons of Israel will be like the sand of the sea.  It will come to pass, in that place where it is said to them, “You are not My people,” it will be said, “You are the sons of the living God.”  Hosea 1:10

    The nation of Israel was under God’s displeasure.  They were walking in disobedience and God got creative in the methods He used for getting a message to His people.  He told Hosea to marry a prostitute.  Then, God named each of his three children.  All three names sent the Israelites a personal message.  1.) “I will crush your fighting strength because you have forsaken me.”  2.) “You will experience me as a God who has run out of mercy, so long as you fail to repent.”  3.) “Your rejection of me will cause others to say that I am not your God.”  Each one was a tragic word which should have grieved the hearts of His children but they continued to walk in perverted paths.

    In spite of this, God followed up these messages with another one that began with the word “yet”.  In that turn of a phrase, salvation and redemption flowed from the mouth of a heartbroken Father.  

    This three letter word can still be heard as God expresses Himself in the New Covenant.

• You may not love me, yet my love for you is unchanged.
• You may not search for me, yet I hover over you and keep calling your name.
• You may be chasing after other gods, yet I will keep sending my messengers to remind you to come home.
• You may believe that your sin has disqualified you from a real future, yet I have one waiting for you to claim.

    “Yet” is indicative of a value system that is other-worldly.  We don’t experience it much here on Earth.  Yet, (no pun intended), God wants us to know that we are citizens of His kingdom. What we really deserve is withheld when we repent of our sins.  What we have not earned is freely given by a God who delights in being extravagant.

I have failed so many times to love You, yet you loved me anyway.  Your message still lives.  I praise You for a heart so great.  Amen