Rest in the Arms

A few weeks ago, my daughters spent the weekend at their grandparents’ house. Consequently, I didn’t see them for nearly three days. After picking them up on a Sunday night I was excited to go through our nightly bedtime ritual. We brushed our teeth, got into our pajamas, read our story, and sang our songs. I turned off the light in my five year old’s room but soon heard the tell-tale click as the door swung open again. My wife and I made eye contact and engaged in a silent game of rock, paper, scissors which apparently I lost because I found myself meeting my bleary-eyed daughter in the upstairs hallway.

“I’m lonely,” she said quietly, “can someone snuggle?” We walked back into her darkened room and I tucked her once again into her bed and lay down beside her. I put my arms around her; making sure to keep my bearded face away from hers.

As I lay awake, she slowly drifted off into contented sleep. In the darkness my mind was preyed upon by my sins, flaws, and inadequacies. Even as the pangs of despair softly chimed I marveled that I have a heavenly Father who longs for me to run to His waiting embrace; who longs to hold me in His arms in spite of my disobedience; who longs to wipe away my tears and frustrations.

Speaking through His prophet Hosea, the Lord called out to His rebellious people Israel, a people who had taken for granted the blessings granted them, who had disregarded His commands, who had turned to other worthless idols --- they chose dead wood over the Living God. They had given the lives of their children as sacrifices to those no-gods and had executed prophets, the legitimate messengers of God. When confronted by the approach of the invading armies of Assyria and Babylon they turned not to their Lord but attempted to buy the help of neighboring countries. If anyone deserved to be abandoned and indeed punished it was this rebellious and disrespectful people. In spite of the abundance of evidence and guilt, this was the Lord’s message to His people:

When Israel was a child, I loved Him,

And out of Egypt I called my son.

The more they were called,

The more they went away;

They kept sacrificing to the Baals

And burning offerings to idols.

Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;

I took them up by their arms,

But they did not know that I healed them.

I led them with cords of kindness,

With the bands of love,

And I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,

And I bent down to them and fed them.

They shall not return to the land of Egypt,

But Assyria shall be their king,

Because they have refused to return to me.

The sword shall rage against their cities,

Consume the bars of their gates,

And devour them because of their own counsels.

My people are bent on turning away from me,

And though they call to the Most High,

He shall not raise them up at all.

How can I give you up, O Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, O Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I treat you like Zeboiim?

My heart recoils within me;

My compassion grows warm and tender.

I will not execute my burning anger;

I will not again destroy Ephraim;

For I am God and not a man,

The Holy One in your midst,

And I will not come in wrath.

Instead of further threats of punishment and the certainty of retributive justice, the Lord implores His people to come back to Him. “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel?” The love and compassion of His nature oozes from His words. “I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst.” He longed to have His people return to Him; to be swept up in His arms; to restore the relationship that was squandered. The Lord desired it for Israel and He desires it for us. He wanted it so much that He sent His Son to save us while we were still sinners, BEFORE we could offer any gift or obedience. He longs for us to run to Him, to bury ourselves in His embrace, to weep, repent, and mourn.

I long to be a comforter for my daughter, that I might in some small way help to heal the pain and alleviate her fears. However, I yearn a thousand times over that she, I, and whomever reads these words would rest in our Savior’s embrace, that we would confess our sins (which He already knows), pour out our pains and fears (of which He is also aware), and live in the freedom won in Christ.