Therefore, I am going to persuade her, lead her to the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.
Hosea 2:14
This verse comes after God takes away Israel's prosperity.
You may think, "How can he be so mean?" Well, the people were pursuing ungodly lives, feeding their fleshly desires, they had turned their back on God. (Does this sound familiar? #2023)
God had provided them with an abundance of grain, they turned around and offered it as a sacrifice to Baal.
What a slap in the face.
I find it interesting how our society can quickly point out when God takes something away from us, either something that he has given to us out of compassion, or something we have taken for ourselves that isn't good for us.
We obsess over how unfair it seems. Even though we haven't necessarily done anything to deserve it in the first place. When life is going bad, we don't take ownership for it, and when life is going good, we do.
If God has created us from the dust of earth, we are his creation. He is not created by us. If God decides to give his creation something and it is used to dishonour him -- God has the authority to take back what was his to give.
But after God removes the prosperity that Israel had, he allures her into the wilderness, away from the chaos, the noise, the broken expectations of this world. And speaks tenderly to her... He calls her by name, he speaks life into her soul and reminds her of his steadfast love.
Just as he provided for Jonah, despite his rebellion, just as he provided for Adam and Eve despite their rebellion. He will provide for you.
If you are going through a season of hardship, loss, isolation -- meet the one who has called you there. His heart is for you. Don't mistaken your pain as rejection. He is the only one that can meet you in the depths of your desire and offer you the life giving water that will enable you to thrive in the wilderness.
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