I want to begin today by asking a question that might hit close to home for some of us: Have you ever loved someone who didn’t love you back?
You gave and gave, and they walked away. You sacrificed, you showed up, you forgave—again and again—but they just… didn’t return it. Maybe it was a child. A parent. A friend. A spouse. You felt helpless, hurt, even angry—but more than anything, your heart just broke.
That’s exactly what’s happening in Hosea 11.
Today’s passage is one of the most vulnerable, heart-wrenching moments in the entire Bible—not from a human being, but from God Himself. It’s raw. It’s emotional. And it’s all about the relentless love of God for His people—even when they run from Him.
Let’s walk through it together. I want to show you three truths about God’s love that can change your life, your family, your relationships, and even how you see your past.
1. God’s Love is Parental
Hosea 11:1–4 says, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” (v.1)
God could have chosen any metaphor to describe His relationship with His people. He could have used the image of a king and subjects. A master and servants. A judge and defendants. But here, in Hosea 11, He chooses something much more intimate, much more vulnerable: a parent and a child.
He says, “When Israel was a child, I loved him.” That’s a father remembering his child’s first steps, the early years, the deep connection that forms not because the child is perfect but simply because the child is yours.
I want you to picture this like a home movie in God’s mind. He’s looking back on the “baby years” of Israel—how He rescued them from slavery in Egypt, how He fed them in the wilderness, how He led them with patience. And He says, “I taught them to walk… I took them in my arms… I bent down to feed them.” (v.3–4)
It’s not just a poetic picture—it’s deeply personal. God is saying, “I was there every step of the way.”
Think about that. This is the God of the universe—the one who formed galaxies—kneeling down to feed His children. Picking them up when they stumbled. Reaching out, again and again, to guide them forward. That’s not just love. That’s parental love. And it’s the kind of love that keeps showing up.
Now, any person in this room who has cared for a child knows that this kind of love isn’t always returned. Kids don’t say “thank you” for the diaper changes, the sleepless nights, the scraped-knee bandages, or the last piece of pie you let them have. They often don’t even realize how much you’ve done until years later—if ever. And even then, some children still choose to rebel.
That’s what God’s saying here. Verse 2 says, “But the more I called them, the more they went away from me.”
That verse hits hard, doesn’t it? If you’ve ever raised a child who turned away from everything you tried to teach them, then you know what this feels like. If you’ve watched someone you love walk into danger, bitterness, or just apathy—you’ve felt the ache of loving someone who doesn't love you back.
But here’s the good news: God knows exactly how you feel. He’s not distant from your pain. He’s walked that road. He knows the heartbreak of a child’s rejection. But He doesn’t stop loving.
You see, our world tells us love is a feeling. But God's Word shows us love is a choice. It’s action. It’s commitment. And God’s parental love is the kind that keeps giving, even when it hurts. That’s how He loves you, by the way.
Maybe you think, “God can’t really love me like that—I’ve messed up too much.” Or maybe you grew up with a father who was distant or angry or never satisfied, so you project that onto God.
But let me tell you the truth: God is not a reflection of your earthly parent—He’s the perfection of what a parent should be. He sees every step you’ve taken, and He’s not waiting to scold you—He’s waiting to hold you.
Even when you’ve wandered, He’s still been there—calling you back, guiding you gently, loving you through your rebellion.
This isn’t a God who gives up. This is a God who teaches you to walk… and stands ready to catch you when you fall.
So if you’ve been running, come home. If you’ve been questioning whether God still cares, let Hosea remind you: He loved you first. He loves you still. He loves you always.
That’s the heart of your heavenly Father.
The second truth we see comes from Hosea 11:5–7: “Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? My people are determined to turn from me.” (vv. 5, 7)
The second truth is: God’s Love Is Painful. Let’s be honest: love hurts sometimes.
Not because love is wrong, but because people are broken. Love makes your heart vulnerable. The deeper you love, the more it hurts when someone turns away. If you’ve ever been betrayed, rejected, or ignored by someone you deeply care about, then you know what I’m talking about.
In verses 5 through 7, we see that God feels that pain. His people—whom He rescued, nurtured, and provided for—have rebelled. They didn’t just forget about Him; they refused to repent. They chose to walk away.
And what’s God’s response? Not anger. Not punishment. But pain.
He’s grieving. You can hear it in the words: “My people are determined to turn from me.” That’s not frustration; that’s heartbreak.
You see, God’s love isn’t casual. He’s not loving us from a distance. He’s in it with us. He’s invested, emotionally and spiritually. When we walk away, it wounds Him. Not because He’s needy—but because He cares that much.
Now, this is where we hit an important truth: sometimes God allows pain as a consequence of our choices. That’s what’s happening here. Israel is about to face exile. They’re going to be ruled by Assyria. Not because God has abandoned them, but because they’ve walked so far from His ways that discipline is the only thing that can bring them back.
God never disciplines out of vengeance—He disciplines out of love.
Hebrews 12:6 says, “The Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His child.”
If you're going through a hard season right now, it doesn't always mean you've done something wrong. But sometimes, just sometimes, that discomfort, that emptiness, that frustration—is God getting your attention.
He’s not punishing you to push you away. He’s allowing the pain to pull you back.
You know, one of the most dangerous lies people believe is that when life gets hard, it means God is mad at them. But the truth is, God’s presence is just as real in the wilderness as it is on the mountaintop.
And sometimes, the most powerful work God does in your life isn’t when everything is going right—but when He meets you in the mess.
The Israelites were determined to turn away from God. But God was even more determined to bring them home. I think that’s what we need to hear today. God will let you feel the weight of your choices, but He’ll never stop calling you back. He may let the floor drop out from under your plans—but only because He wants to build your life on something stronger.
And here’s the good news: God’s mercy is never far behind His discipline.
He doesn’t leave us in exile forever. He doesn’t slam the door shut. He allows the consequences, yes—but then He says, “Come home. I still want you. I still love you.”
So let me ask you something today: Is God using this season to call you back?
Have you been walking your own way, doing your own thing, hoping it all works out—and wondering why you feel so disconnected? Maybe it’s time to stop blaming your circumstances and start listening to the voice of your Father.
He’s not here to shame you. He’s here to restore you.
Yes, love is painful. But it’s also patient. And God’s love never gives up—even when it hurts.
The last truth I want us to see today is: God’s Love Is Relentless. Hosea 11:8–11 says: “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? ... My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.” (v.8)
If you want to understand what makes God’s love different from any other love in this world—this is it. His love is relentless.
Relentless means it doesn’t stop. It doesn’t quit. It doesn’t run out. Even when it’s rejected, even when it’s betrayed, even when it’s unreciprocated—God keeps loving.
In verse 8, we get a glimpse into the very heart of God. And it’s stunning.
He’s not cold. He’s not detached. He’s not some angry judge, just waiting to strike. No—He’s a heartbroken parent, grieving over His child. He’s wrestling with deep emotion. He says, “How can I give you up? How can I hand you over?” In other words: “I can’t let you go. I love you too much.”
Now notice this: God is not saying, “They don’t deserve consequences.” The Israelites do deserve judgment—they’ve broken the covenant, turned to idols, ignored His Word, and chosen rebellion again and again. Justice would say, “That’s enough.”
But here’s the beauty of God’s character: He holds justice and mercy in perfect tension.
He says, “My heart is changed within me.” Some translations say, “My heart recoils within me,” or “My heart churns.” That’s a strong Hebrew phrase. It means God’s compassion is stirred up so deeply that He’s moved to mercy instead of wrath.
He tells us in verse 9: “For I am God, and not a man—the Holy One among you.” That’s one of the most important statements in the entire Bible.
God says, “I’m not like you.” People give up on each other. People walk away when it gets hard. People saying, “I’ve had enough.” But God doesn’t.
He says, “I won’t unleash my full anger. I won’t destroy you completely. I’m not giving up. I’m God. I’m holy. And my love is bigger than your rebellion.”
That’s relentless love.
And here’s the kicker: This is prophetic.
God didn’t just say He wouldn’t give up—He proved it. He sent Jesus.
Did you catch how verse 1 began? “Out of Egypt I called my son.” That verse was echoed in Matthew 2:15—when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus back from Egypt after Herod’s threat had passed. Hosea was speaking about Israel, but Matthew says it also points to Jesus, the true and faithful Son.
Where Israel failed, Jesus succeeded. Where God’s people rejected Him, Jesus offered complete obedience—even unto death. Why? To bring us home.
That’s how relentless God’s love is: He came Himself. He didn’t just send a prophet. He didn’t just send a blessing. He entered the story, took on flesh, walked our roads, and carried our sin to the cross.
Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
That’s what relentless love looks like. It doesn’t wait for you to get your act together. It runs toward you—arms wide open. And verse 11 in Hosea ends with a promise: “They will come trembling like birds from Egypt… I will settle them in their homes.”
That’s God saying, “There’s still hope. I’m making a way back.”
Friends, that same invitation is open to you today. You may feel far from God. Maybe you’ve wandered. Maybe you’ve wasted time, or made decisions you regret. But here’s what God wants you to know:
He’s not done with you. He’s not angry at you. He’s not looking to punish you. He’s calling you home. Relentlessly. Patiently. Lovingly.
Don’t run from that kind of love—run toward it.
Hosea 11 is one of the most personal, emotional, and beautiful chapters in the entire Bible—not because it’s about perfect people, but because it reveals a perfect love.
You may be wondering, “Okay, Pastor—what do I do with all this?”
Here’s the answer: Come home.
You don’t have to earn it. You don’t have to fix your life first. You don’t have to impress God with promises or religious performances. You just have to take that first step toward Him. He’ll meet you there. In fact, He’s already been chasing you this whole time.
Jesus told a story about a prodigal son—a boy who wasted everything and thought he’d blown his chance. But when he came walking home, his father didn’t shame him. He ran to him. He embraced him. He called him “son.”
That’s what God wants to do with you.
Maybe you’ve wandered. Maybe you’ve let bitterness, busyness, or brokenness keep you away. Maybe you’ve never really known what it means to have a personal relationship with a loving God. Or maybe you’ve been in church your whole life but still feel distant from His heart.
Wherever you are today, here’s the truth: God is calling you back.
Not to religion. Not to rules. But to relationship.
You might say, “But I’ve messed up too much.” God says, “How can I give you up?”
You might say, “I feel so far from Him.” God says, “I will bring you home.”
You might say, “I don’t even know how to come back.” God says, “Just take one step—and I’ll run to meet you.”
That’s the gospel. That’s the good news. And that’s the invitation today.
So let me ask you one last time:
What’s stopping you from coming home to the love of God?
If you’re ready to say yes to Him—whether for the first time or the hundredth time—don’t wait. Let today be the day you turn around, fall into His arms, and discover that He never stopped loving you.
