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PARENTING (HOSEA 11:1-11)

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is Parenting. Parenting is the process of raising children and providing them with protection and care to ensure their healthy development into adulthood. Parenting is one of the most demanding but fulfilling stewardship roles God has given to human beings. It comes with great responsibility and its accompanied blessings. We shall reflect on the fact that God is our perfect example of parenting and parental love.

Dear friend, what do you do when you have a stubborn or recalcitrant child? Do you abandon the said child or continue to love him or her unconditionally, doing your best to provide for him or her? Hosea 11:1-11 starts with God’s expression of displeasure at the disobedience and idolatry of Israel. “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt, I called my son. 2 But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. 3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. 4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them, I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. Hosea 11:1-4. Their punishment is that the Egyptian and Assyrian empires will subdue them and hold captives respectively. However, like the love of a parent the Lord’s heart will look upon them with mercy, he will forgive them and bring them back to their land. “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. 9 I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man — the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities. (Hosea 11:8-9)

The relationship between God and Israel in Hosea 11: 1-11 is likened to a parent and his disobedient children. I remember vividly when we were kids, our father would get furious with us when we did the forbidden, such as going to town without permission, refusing to tidy up the house and fighting with one another. He will discipline us in the manner he deems fit and then during morning devotion he will counsel us and reassure us of their love for us as our parents. Now that we have become adults, we appreciate the immeasurable blessings our parent’s discipline, love and protection have brought to us.

The point in today’s scripture reading is that like the father of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32, God does not give up on us. He is not happy when we sin, He worries about us when we are held captive by our sinful desires and above all, His arms are always opened to receive us back as His children when we repent. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Today’s reflection offers us another opportunity to return to the loving and gracious arms of our Father God. “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.”(Psalm 103:13) Again Proverbs 3:11-12 reassures us that “My son, do not despise the LORD’S discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” There is no other way to live a purpose-driven life except to trust and obey the Lord as children and live continually under His compassionate and parental love.

We are called upon to be compassionate parents just as God has been compassionate and loving towards us. Indeed, as parents, we may be deeply hurt or disappointed by the shameful or embarrassing attitude of a child. Some parents have felt so hurt that they have cursed their children and have disowned them. Today’s reflection has taught us that as believers and parents, we must follow the perfect example of God’s parenting love for Israel and for that matter the world, when Jesus said “ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17). We are greatly encouraged to forgive that child who has hurt us greatly. We are encouraged to take steps to welcome home that child we may have abandoned or disowned all these years. Perhaps, the child is afraid or feels unworthy to return home or call you a father or mother again, you can be the first to contact him or her if you know his or her whereabouts. Our faith is incomplete and we can not please God until we have demonstrated compassion and love for us to others including our prodigal son or daughter.

In summary, we have discovered that God is our perfect example of parenting and parental love. Let us please Him and also do His will by following His perfect example as loving and compassionate parents. Shalom.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Do you remember how wayward you were in the past?
2. Do you appreciate the compassion and love God has for you after all the forbidden acts or sins you have committed?
3. Have you been a merciful and loving parent? Are you at peace and in a good relationship with all your children? Have you made any effort to bring the wayward son or daughter home?

PRAYER

THANK YOU LORD FOR LOVING ME UNCONDITIONALLY, HELP ME TO FOLLOW YOUR EXAMPLE BY EXTENDING THE SAME LOVE AND COMPASSION TO OTHERS. STRENGTHEN US TO BE MERCIFUL AND FORGIVING PARENTS EVEN WHEN WE ARE GREATLY DISAPPOINTED OR HURT BY OUR CHILDREN. AMEN.