Breaking God's Heart

Breaking God’s Heart

Hosea 11:1-8

3-24-02

Intro:

Have you ever Asked yourself the Question: What’s it like for God?

We look at almost every experience in life from the perspective of –“How does this impact me?” I’m not saying that is altogether wrong- I’m just saying that is usually our frame of reference.

But today I want to talk about the heart of God. I want to talk about how God feels.

Is it possible for us to actually delight the heart of God?

Is it possible for us to break God’s Heart? How do my choices Impact God?

The Scripture actually has a lot to say about that-

and in the process of saying it gives us Insight as to what God is Really Like!

For Example, in Gen 6 – we are given a powerful glimpse into Heart of God.

I. God’s Heart was Broken over Noah’s Generation.

It’s easy read past that and miss it – but its there. (Gen. 6:5-6)

“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” NKJV

I hope that when we read verses like this in the Bible we don’t picture a hard, distant deity who is simply hacked off because people won’t cooperate with Him or do what He wants them to do. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Hebrew word used to describe God’s Sorrow in this passage is “Nacham”

It means to “ draw the breath forcibly”.(1) It is a deep SIGH of painful sorrow.

Have You ever Hurt so Bad inside that you could hardly get your breath?

That’s the kind of sorrow God is Experiencing here.

It’s as if God is saying “Oooh, Oooh…” -such Grief that only Groans because it is beyond words.

This is the Broken Heart of God. This is Love Disappointed & Wounded.

This is God experiencing a deep, piercing Sorrow (2) over His loved & lost creation.

God’s Response to our rebellion or rejection is Never a Selfish Response.

It’s easy for us to Project onto God our own selfish Motives if we’re not careful.

But “God is Love” (3) Love is never Angry because it didn’t get something for itself.

Love “…seeks not its own..” in the first place. (4)

God is Heartbroken over what is happening to these people because of their sin—

Not over what is happening to Himself. The concern is their pain. They have corrupted themselves and “The wages of sin is death.” Sin carries with it that kind of consequence.

The Call of God is always a call to LIFE – and anyone who will answer that call and turn from sin to God will live. II Pet. 3:9 God is “… not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

Today as in Noah’s day – For every soul that goes own way and insists upon its own destruction, there is a deep, deep Sigh of Sorrow in heart of God for that soul.

He takes absolutely No delight in death of the wicked.

WHY would an omniscient, omnipotent God Position Himself to Experience such sorrow & grief?

Because Love by its very Nature Is Vulnerable to Grief.

Because Love by its very Nature Is Impacted by Choice of others.

To Grant Free will is to Grant possibility of Love.

But, is also to Grant Capacity to Reject Love, wound, refuse love.

In the book of Hosea

II. God’s Heart was Broken Over Israel’s Rejection.

The 10 Northern tribes of Israel are call “Ephraim’ after dominant tribe.

Hosea 11:1-8

"When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. 2As they called them, So they went from them; They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to carved images.3"I taught Ephraim to walk, Taking them by their arms; But they did not know that I healed them. 4I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.

5"He shall not return to the land of Egypt; But the Assyrian shall be his king,Because they refused to repent. 6And the sword shall slash in his cities, Devour his districts, And consume them, Because of their own counsels. 7My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him. 8"How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel?How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboiim?

My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred. “ NKJV