The book of Hosea’s emotional leadership lesson
I am amazed at God's emotional vulnerability. In Hosea chapter 11, he opens his heart to us in a way we don't often see.
"When Israel was a child, I loved him," he says in verse one. "But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me." Doesn't that sound like a loving, frustrated parent?
In verse three, he recalls how he taught Israel to walk. But then he laments, "But he doesn't know or even care that it was I who took care of him."
He continues to expose his inner feelings: "Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go…? My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows" (v 8).
The book of Hosea, like much of the Old Testament, depicts a God full of justice and judgment. But in a surprising twist, it reveals a God with a heart as tender as any parent's, a holy love deeper than any we can fathom.
In the final chapter of the book, Hosea pleads with God's people to return to the Lord, to confess and ask forgiveness. If they do, God says, "I will heal you of your faithlessness" (14:4).
Then, with a New Testament flourish, the Lord reminds them and us, "I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from me" (14:8).
What a perfect setup for the One who was to come, who would show the world firsthand what God would be like if he became a human.
I highly recommend reading this beautiful OT book. It has opened my eyes to who God has always been, with a soft heart, fierce strength and a desire to bless rather than punish.
May we lead others in the same way.
Walking with him,
Tom Harper
Founder, BiblicalLeadership.com
LinkedIn profile | My books
 | Tom Harper is publisher of BiblicalLeadership.com and executive chairman of Networld Media Group, a business-to-business publisher and event producer. He has written five books, including Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership (DeepWater Books, 2019) as well as the Christian business fable Through Colored Glasses and its sequel Inner Threat (DeepWater, 2022). Learn More » |
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