Topic(s):  Bible Authority, Love, Old Testament

Todd Clippard

Emphasize the love of God despite Israel's refusal to obey Him. Passages from Hosea (11:5ff; 14:1ff) are good. Hosea 11:8 is a classic, "How shall I give thee up O Ephraim?" God knew in order to be true to His word that Ephraim (a synonym for the northern kingdom of Israel) would have to go into captivity, never to return to nationhood. But it still broke his heart.

Other texts include Jeremiah 2:32; 3:20-25, or the entire book of Judges. Emphasize God's love as a parent to disobedient children, but don't omit the punishment of the disobedient provoked by His love.