Raisin Cakes
“And the Lord said to me, ‘Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.’” Hosea 3:1
Hosea’s wife was unfaithful to him, yet he brought her back home and loved her. She loved other things, other people, and he loved her. He loved her because the Lord loved him. He loved her like the Lord loves the Israelites.
That is my favorite part of the verse, “Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” It sounds silly, talking about raisin cakes and all, but what it is telling Hosea to do is love his wife even though she turns to other things; just like the Lord loves his people even though they turn to other things.
The Israelites turned to other gods; they loved raisin cakes (which are just sweets at a celebration but signify loving anything else more than God), and they put many other things before the Lord. Yet the Lord faithfully loved them.
We are the Israelites. We aren’t perfect. We put people - maybe friends, boyfriends, family; material things - clothes, technology, cars; social media; and so many other things before the Lord. WE LOVE RAISIN CAKES. But the Lord FAITHFULLY and STEADFASTLY loves us. He loves us unconditionally. He loves us even though we turn away, even though we choose other things.
Think for a second. Why do you choose to put people, material possessions, and so many other things before the Lord? What does it do for you? Is it lasting? Then think about the Lord’s unfailing, faithful, steadfast love for you.
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10