Puppy training

A little over a year ago we got a puppy. I had grown up with dogs and remembered some aspects of the necessary training, but all of this was new territory for my husband. We approached the situation as united as possible, but our incredibly cute and mischievous little charge was quick to exploit any weakness or variation between our methods.

Being firm on the rules seemed easy in theory, but in practice, we both caved at times, and this adorable little monster walked all over us. What was worse, the look in his eyes often seemed to mock our efforts.

Hosea finds himself in a situation much more difficult than trying to teach a puppy some manners. As God’s messenger to Israel and Judah, he has to try to reach people who are deliberately looking the other way. In being the embodiment of God’s frustration, Hosea’s actions demonstrate the extremes to which God will go to express God’s exasperation and love to God’s children. Even when spurned, God comes back again and again to embrace them once they see the error in their ways.

Dear God, forgive our rebellious actions and help us to see the vastness of your love for us. Amen. — CS