The Love of God 2

Let’s continue discussing the love of God in a different context to help us grasp the greatness of the love and compassion He has for us.

All throughout scripture we can find glimpses of poetic imagery concerning the love of God for His people. Whether in the book of Genesis, with the union of Isaac and Rebecca, the book of Ruth and her marriage to Boaz, the book of Hosea and his marriage to a very immoral woman named Gomer.

And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. 

And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a veil and covered herself. 

And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. Genesis 24:62-67

And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. 

Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. 

And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: 

And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman. 

So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. Ruth 4:9-13 

When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: "Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, For the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the LORD. Hosea 1:2

There are other passages of scripture portraying our relationship with God and Christ, but the one that best exemplifies this relationship is found in Genesis.

 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him.  

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 

 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 

 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:20-25 

Each of these Biblical examples paint a picture of God’s love for the church, His people.

The apostle Paul, by revelation of the Holy Spirit, compared our relationship with Christ in the context of marriage.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 

 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.   For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 

 "FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH." 

This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:25-32

This is a wonderful mystery, but it conveys the intense love God has for us and His desire to be one with us throughout eternity. Amazing! Marriage was God’s idea. It was in His heart to be married (united) to His people before the beginning of time. Even when man fell into disobedience, the Father had a plan to redeem mankind and bring him back into intimate relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.

When we accept Christ, we are united to Him and the Father in a mysterious and wonderful way that is likened to marriage, although it is much more. We are in the family of God, entwined with Christ, in God (Colossians 3:3). It does not get any better than that!

It will take all of eternity to unpack the greatness of God’s unfailing love, and kindness to those who have surrendered their lives to Him.

Until next time, may God our Heavenly Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord, bless and keep you!

James Brown CST 03/31/2024