In this sermon, we are drawn into the tender and powerful words of Hosea 11: 1–11, where God speaks as a Father to His wayward children. Israel was loved, called out of Egypt, and carried in God’s arms, yet they turned to idols and rebellion. Still, God’s heart burned with compassion: “How can I give you up, Ephraim?” Instead of unleashing anger, He promises restoration. Tabi reminds us that this is the heartbeat of the gospel: even when we wander, God pursues us with cords of love.
The sermon challenges us to see our own tendencies to backslide—to trade God’s presence for temporary idols, to rely on our own counsel instead of His wisdom. Yet God does not abandon us to destruction. His roar is not to terrify but to call His children home. Tabi points us to the cross, where justice and mercy meet, and to Jesus, who embodies God’s relentless love.
We are invited to respond not with fear, but with gratitude and return. Faithfulness is not about never stumbling, but about always coming back to the One who heals and restores. The question is not whether God still loves us—He has already answered that—but whether we will walk after Him, trembling with reverence and joy.
Key Takeaways:
- God’s love is parental—tender, instructive, and relentless.
- Even when His people rebel, His heart leans toward mercy, not wrath.
- Idolatry is not just ancient; today’s idols of success, comfort, or control still pull us away.
- God’s roar is a call to return—not a threat, but an invitation to restoration.
- Jesus embodies Hosea’s promise: the faithful Son who brings us home.
- Our response is to return, repent, and walk after the Lord in reverence.
Reflection: When you feel distant from God, will you believe His roar is not rejection, but a call to return home?
