M0053 on Nostr: As a Christian sometimes I wrestle with the idea God created us as family. As ...

As a Christian sometimes I wrestle with the idea God created us as family. As children. Sons and daughters. Even as a bride.

Those ideas frames as poetry are easy. Even beautiful. Considering them as metaphorical narratives is my default.

And I think that is wrong.

It's like making Christmas about harmless songs and pine trees.

God instructed one of his prophets, Hosea, to marry a prostitute, Gomer. And he did so knowing that Hosea would suffer because Gomor would be unfaithful to him.

Two things stand out to me. Two things that don't quite fit our modern concepts about the divine.

First, it God sees us so much as an extension of Himself that He chose to share His own agony with a man.

And second, that the emotion and experiences that he shared with Hosea are things I think I usually consider to be uniquely human, not divine.

God was torn and even wounded by the unfaithfulness of His people.

This morning I am considering the depth of the divinity in this call of pain from God Himself.

*How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah or Gomorrah? My heart is torn within me; my compassion is stirred.*

I have often seen God as some stoic, immovable force, Incapable of sorrow or hurt.

And yet, not only has he felt that emotion that I would more quickly label "human"...

But he has wanted to share it with you and I.