Knowing God Hurts

Hosea 6:1 "Come, let us return to the Lor; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up."

This seems like such a strange verse. It almost paints God out to be a double personality--on the one hand healing and the other hurting. How could this be? Isn't God love? Would a God of love actually cause harm to someone?

Look at chapter 10 verse 10: "When I please, I will discipline them." Discipline hurts, no doubt about it. As parents we discipline our children, not to punish them, but to train them. We slap their hand away from a hot stove or yank them back from crossing a busy street. We say "no" to them when they want to follow the crowd to do evil. We withold privileges to teach them the consequences of their actions. God does the same.

Hebrews 12:6 "For the Lord disciplines those he loves."

Our kids sometimes say mean things to us when we discipline them, but they come around and eventually, hopefully, see the good we are trying to do in their lives. That's the way God is times infinity. He tears out the bad in order to instill the good; He hurts by allowing us to feel the consequences of our actions in order to instill His character in us.

So let's do what Hosea says later in chapter 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. ESV

Pastor Tom