I have just read the last chapter of Hosea. There seems to be a pattern in the way he prophesies: every exposure of Israel's sin and unfaithfulness is followed by an affirmation of God's love for them, together with a bestowal of breath-taking promises. There are many allusions to the Gospel and to the Father-heart of God. See how many you can find in the section below. And there is always a call to repentance, which is all the Lord requires of us: that we would humble ourselves and show genuine sorrow over our sin. "In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength" (Isa 30:15).

"Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down. Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to him, 'Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises.  Assyria cannot save us, nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we have made, "You are our gods." No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy.' The Lord says, 'Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever. I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. Israel will blossom like the lily; it will send roots deep into the soil like the cedars in Lebanon. Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees, as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon. My people will again live under my shade … 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.'"

I love the words: "in you alone do the orphans find mercy". An orphan is a child whose parents have died, are unknown, or have permanently abandoned them. One tends to think of those who are under ten, extremely vulnerable and in desperate need of love, kindness, security, protection, inner peace and being treasured; those in the utmost danger of permanently feeling insignificant, of no value, and a waste-of-space. But a child may be an emotional orphan, suffering all the above, while living with parents who neglect and abuse them.

God is a Father to the fatherless, and he is a good, good Father. In him alone do orphans find mercy. They encounter compassion, love, kindness and encouragement. To all who foster and adopt, I salute you. You are the most authentic expression of the Mother-heart and Father-heart of God. Well done! You bring such joy to Jesus who is the great lover and friend of little ones.

I also love the words: "I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever". The full measure of God's wrath was poured out on Jesus. For every child of God, his anger is gone for ever. And because we are trusting in Jesus alone to save us, his love for us knows no bounds. If you are in any doubt about this, say to yourself: "The Father's love for me knows no bounds" and keep saying it until it passes from your head to your heart.