The offer of return is the recurring theme of God’s relationship with his people. The book of Hosea points very clearly to the repeated turning away of God’s people and calls for their repentance. But repentance, in the sense of turning away from our sin is only half of the story. God will revive us, bind us up, and raise us up. But, he does so in order that we might know him. Our goal is a movement towards God, not merely a move away from sin.

Therefore, our souls must say:

“Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord. His going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains water the earth.” Hosea 6:3

God seeks those who will seek his face:

“I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.” Hosea 5:15

This isn’t a return to ritual, or a half-hearted compliance. This is a lifelong passionate commitment to knowing God and to being known.

So often we come to God, and yet we daren’t look him in the face – not out of fear, but out of apathy, or self preservation. To look him full in the face is to see him for who he is, and to see us as his creation – his, body, soul, mind and spirit. It is to return all of this to him, freely and unreservedly, no matter the personal cost.

But whatever cost there may be is temporary, for a harvest is appointed when God will restore the fortunes of his people.

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart I will be found by you says the LORD.” Jeremiah 29:13