There’s a reason behind what God does. It’s love. Love is God’s compelling motivation. When Lazarus was sick to the point that he was about to die, God loved Lazarus so He waited and didn’t go right away. They didn’t understand that kind of love, but it was love. The Scriptures point out Jesus’ love for Lazarus and His family and point out the purposeful waiting to go to them.

God acts purposefully. He has a reason for what He does, and it’s love.

In Hosea 6, there is a call to return to the Lord. It says, “He has torn us, that He may heal us.”

There was a purpose in the tearing down. God’s desire was healing. Think of a renovation where the demolition has to happen first, before it can be made beautiful. First a wound needs washing out, a removal of what’s unclean before it can be bound up for healing.

God watches over the tearing down. He’s never lashing out. He’s in control. He acts on purpose. Believe in God’s perfect purposes in whatever is going on in your life.

God wants us to know Him. The encouragement in this chapter is to “press on to know the Lord.”

To know Him is eternal life and God desires all to be saved. He wants us to know Him. He wants us to draw near and get to know Him. We can’t do that in sin. We have to repent and return. He will cleanse us and bring us near because of God’s steadfast love. He desires to show mercy.

He wants our love, not our sacrifice. He wants us to know and choose Him. He never wants us choosing sin and relying on sacrifices to try to make up for it.

There’s a promise of revival here. After two days, He will revive us. We are at the end of two thousand-year-days since Jesus was raised from the dead. And then there is a promise to be raised on the third day. After the end of the second day is the dawn of the third day. He will raise us up to live before Him forever.