Why I Call the Lord My Husband: A Journey of Faith and Love
Introduction:
Shalom, dear friends. Today, I want to share with you a deeply personal and transformative journey of faith and love that has led me to call the Lord my Husband. This journey is rooted in the timeless truths of the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, which reveal the depth of God's love and His unwavering commitment to us. Let us explore together how this divine relationship shapes our lives and our faith.
1. God's Everlasting Love:
The Lord declares His love for us in powerful and intimate ways. In the book of Hosea, God speaks through the prophet, saying:
"I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, and I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord" (Hosea 2:19-20).
These words resonate deeply within me. They remind me that God's love is not fleeting or conditional but eternal and steadfast. Just as a husband pledges his faithfulness to his wife, so does the Lord commit Himself to us with unwavering love and devotion.
2. The Covenant Relationship:
Our relationship with God is often described as a covenant, a sacred bond that mirrors the marital relationship. The prophet Isaiah beautifully captures this imagery:
"For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth" (Isaiah 54:5).
This verse speaks to the profound intimacy and commitment that God offers us. He is not distant or detached but intimately involved in our lives, guiding and protecting us as a loving husband would. This covenant relationship calls us to respond with faithfulness and love.
3. Seeking and Finding God:
In my journey, there have been moments of seeking and longing, times when I felt distant from God. Yet, the book of Jeremiah reassures us of God's faithfulness:
"You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord (Jeremiah 29:13-14).
These verses have been a source of hope and encouragement. They remind me that our pursuit of God is not in vain. When we earnestly seek Him, He reveals Himself to us, drawing us closer into His loving embrace. Just as a husband seeks to understand and cherish his wife, so does God desire to be found and known by us.
4. A Love That Redeems:
Our journey with God is also a story of redemption. The prophet Hosea's life exemplifies this as he was called to love and redeem his unfaithful wife, Gomer, symbolizing God's redemptive love for Israel:
"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'" (Hosea 3:1).
This powerful illustration reveals that no matter how far we stray, God's love remains steadfast. He seeks to restore us, to bring us back into a loving and faithful relationship with Him. His love is a redemptive force that transforms our lives and heals our brokenness.
5. Living as the Beloved:
Understanding God as our Husband transforms the way we live. We are called to live as His beloved, reflecting His love in our actions and relationships. The book of Micah provides guidance:
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).
These words remind me that our response to God's love should be one of justice, mercy, and humility. Just as a loving wife seeks to honor and support her husband, so should we seek to live in a way that honors God and reflects His love to the world.
Conclusion:
As I reflect on this journey of faith and love, I am reminded of the depth of God's commitment to us. He is not just a distant deity but a loving Husband who desires an intimate and faithful relationship with each of us. By embracing this divine relationship, we find our true identity and purpose.
May we all seek to know the Lord as our Husband, to experience His unwavering love, and to live as His beloved. Let us walk this journey of faith and love together, growing ever closer to the One who calls us His own.
Shalom and blessings to you all.
