Rentless Love

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)