God Can Speak Through Parenting

Hosea is one of those unsung heroes of the Old Testament.  As a prophet, he endured great hardship for a greater good.

God told Hosea to marry a prostitute, knowing full well that she would be unfaithful to him.  After she was unfaithful, God told Hosea to take her back as his wife:

“The Lord said to me, ‘Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes (Hosea 3:1).’”

The passage goes on to say that Hosea took her back and demonstrated his love for her with gifts and kind words.  God used Hosea’s life as a word picture to illustrate in flesh and blood the relationship between the Israelites and their God.  The truth revealed was this:  God loves His people.  Even if His people are unfaithful, He still loves them.

Word pictures are a powerful means of communication between God and His people.  Jesus primarily used parables, another type of word picture, when speaking to crowds to illustrate a truth to those who had ears to hear.

Parenting is a word picture drawn for us by our God.  If we have ears to hear and eyes to see, we can learn a great deal about our relationship with Him.

Challenge yourself today to see your interactions with your child as a message from God. 

• When your child waits until the third time they are called to come to the dinner table, ask yourself, “Do I respond right away when God speaks to me?”
• When your child begs for something they are convinced they “need” and you don’t give in, think about how God has a purpose in every answer to your prayers as well.
• When you see your child about to learn a lesson “the hard way” and you don’t intervene to protect them, reflect on the fact that God allows us to experience struggles and hardships in order to teach us things too.
• When your teen refuses to speak to you, remember that God longs to hear from you as well.

If you view your role as a parent with this lens, you will get a clear picture from God that reveals the magnitude of His love for you.