Of course the Bible is full of them. But as we come to the close of what has been a challenging journey through Hosea we see that if Israel repented and came back to Him then the benefits are many:-
- I will heal their waywardness and love them freely.
- for my anger has turned away from them.
- I will be like the dew to Israel;
- he will blossom like a lily.
- Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots;
- his young shoots will grow.
- His splendour will be like an olive tree,
- his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
- People will dwell again in his shade;
- they will flourish like the grain,
- they will blossom like the vine
- Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.
- Ephraim, what more have to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him.
- I am like a flourishing juniper;
- your fruitfulness comes from me.
(Hosea 14 v 4-8)
15 promises. 15 benefits that follow repentance. None of them is of ourselves. They are all of His grace and mercy. They are all found in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His act led to these benefits for our lives.
Today we all need to hear these words of healing; love; mercy not anger; dew; blossom; rooted; growth; splendour; fragrance; protection; flourishing; blossoming; reputation; being heard and cared for by Him; flourishing again; fruitfulness. They are all here.
Over the next few days we will unpack each one but maybe this morning it is simply that to meditate on one or two is what we need to face our day.
Missions Paul 