Devotions: Return To Compassion

Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to him, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them. But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the Lord their God, and will not deliver them by bow, sword, battle, horses or horsemen.”

Hosea 1:6-7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Hosea was a prophet before the fall of Israel. His initial prophecy, indicated through the names of his children, is sorrowful. God had decided to permanently reject Israel. The northern kingdom had utterly turned away from God and refused to repent. King after king led them further into idolatry and heinous sin until God could no longer stand it. Israel was conquered and the nation never returned. Judah, on the other hand, while still enduring punishment for similar sin, was not entirely rejected. The tribe of Judah was punished to be sure, but only for a time. After 70 years, they obtained compassion from their captors and were allowed to return and rebuild. The difference between the two nations was that while they both sinned against God, Judah’s history was not one of continued, unrepentant sin. Judah had periods of repentance and revival initiated by godly kings. This shows that God does not always judge and condemn. He is not harsh or unjust. Israel had utterly broken itself off from God and was rejected as a result. Judah was more faithful and so was disciplined as a child and later restored. Part of this also stems from God’s promise to David that his line would endure. Unless you have utterly turned your back on God and renounced your faith in Him, He will not reject you. No one is beyond reach, even those who seem beyond hope. If you are willing to return to Him, He will restore you!

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