Yesterday I went for a walk along a lovely path and noticed a path to the side which was overgrown with nettles. The only way through that path was to get stung. I didn’t try it.
It reminded me of the grace from God. There are paths that in His wisdom He does not want us to go down so He blocks those paths even though we may be tempted to go down them. If you are feeling contained or trapped today it may well be the grace of God preventing you from walking away from His presence. Then today I read these verses:
“Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.’ She has not acknowledged that I was the one who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil, who lavished on her the silver and gold—which they used for Baal.” (Hosea 2 v 6-8)
Hosea was gracious in that knowing the waywardness of Gomer he made sure that it would be difficult for her to go again. Hosea traced her paths and studied the way she took. What kind of husband does this? It is the one who longs for his wife to come back home.
But there was a previous grace. Another hidden grace. Gomer didn’t know of this grace when she was in the house of one of her lovers that Hosea had been to. Can you imagine Hosea getting to the house and leaving at the door the grain, the new wine and the oil, even the silver and the gold? This is outlandish grace. Some would say foolish grace. Unacknowledged grace!
Those who say this is not grace have not understood that this is what God has given to them as he did the people of Israel. He continued to bless them even though they turned His back on them and this prophecy is a final warning to them.
Even in our imperfection and our sinfulness, in our waywardness, God has always been there for us. When we were at our worst He chased us and provided for us. We took what He gave us for example, our wisdom and ability to create and innovate and we have used it against Him and for more sinful ways. Yet He has pursued us and has contained us. It is Grace upon Grace. Why?
He wants us home.
His Grace will do it.
Missions Paul 