Hosea: God's Faithfulness in Christ - Grace

Like father, like son. You’ve heard the phrase and probably used it in your home. “You are so much like your mother,” or “You got that from your father.” My daughter has a sarcasm that she learned from me. Sarcasm is my love language, which, for the record, I’m not always proud of this.

In our text, God gives us a history of Jacob, the deceiver. That’s literally what his name means, supplanter. He was born clinging to the heal of his brother, Esau. His life was marked by deception, manipulation, and lies. Then one day, he wrestled with the Lord. Even though he was losing, he wouldn’t give up, pleading with God to bless him. In those raw moments, the Lord blessed him, renaming him Israel, which means one who struggles with God.  God does more for Jacob than just change his name, He changes his character. We see that change almost immediately as he approaches his brother Esau and generously blesses him.

The problem is that the people of God, descendants of Jacob, have remained deceivers, liars. They haven’t experienced the grace of God, and their character hasn’t changed. They are like their father, before his encounter with God. Join us Sunday as we worship the One who is like our Heavenly Father and can make us like Himself.