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. 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
As you read through Hosea chapters 11-12, you witness this father who loves his son dearly and shares everything with him. Sadly, the son grows up to betray him. You read in Chapter 11 verses 8-9, the father’s emotions toward the situation, and as you read it toward the end, you witness the words “Holy One among you.”
The father could have destroyed the son, given up on him, and carried out his fierce anger. But instead, he had compassion. He is aroused to his holy nature.
As you sit in your seat of life as a Christian, may you be reminded of 1 Peter 1:15-16 …
But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage]; because it is written, “You shall be holy (set apart), for I am holy.”
You are holy and as we witness the holiness of the father, we see his compassion on the son. You are a witness to the holy one.
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.”
Isaiah 43:10
The anger the father has is righteous, and the feelings he expresses carry weight. He is the creator of the universe; amid his feelings, he chooses holiness. As you bear witness to his holiness and are reminded that you are holy, may your witness carry you there. May your witness carry you into holiness and not self-righteousness or judgment of the son. For your witness should be a response to his holiness that dwells within you, because he is holy so we are holy.
As you share your witness of the Father, may it reflect his holiness that dwells within you.
Questions for reflection:
1. When was the last time you saw yourself as holy?
2. It is so easy to place judgment on others who represent the “son” in this story. If during this time you chose judgment instead of holiness, ask God for forgiveness.
3. When was the last time you shared your “witness” of the Father? Who did you share it with and how has it impacted their life?