What a Contrast (You Hockey Puck!)

Hosea 7:8-16
Luke 7:1-17
I’ll have to admit, the first person I thought about when I read the passage from Hosea for today was Don Rickles. Rickles, best known now perhaps as the voice of Mr. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” movies, first came to prominence as a comedian whose practice was to spew insults at his audience. Listen to what God says to the people of Israel through the prophet. “Ephraim is a cake not turned (half baked)” (Hosea 7:8), “Ephraim has become like a dove, silly and without sense” (v. 11), “a defective bow…. So much for their babbling in the land of Egypt” (v. 16). And those are the “funny insults.” God also accuses the people of self-mutilation for gain (v. 14) and for turning to other gods and other nations for their support (vv. 8, 16). As a result God will bring punishment upon them. “I would redeem them, but they speak lies against me,” says the Lord (vv. 12-13). I can almost hear Rickles’s voice exclaiming, “who do you think you are, you bunch of hockey pucks!”

But then in Luke we find an entirely different “routine.” As Jesus approaches the city of Nain he encounters the funeral procession for the only son of a widow. Having compassion for her Jesus restores the man to life. The crowd’s response is telling. “A great prophet has risen among us!” they say, and “God has looked favorably on his people!” (Luke 7:16). The judgment of God through the prophet has been replaced by the people’s praise of God. Yes, God’s people are still prone to sinful waywardness, and God has rendered judgment against them for it. But God has never given up, either. In Jesus Christ God is calling the people back into right relationship, with God and with one another. There is hope for us because there is grace in God. Ultimately Christ’s sacrifice transcends our weakness and provides us with a path to salvation.

The prophet Hosea was not “playing for laughs” in his day. Nor was Jesus. But what joy we find when we realize that, despite our failings, God loves and cares for us—and always has.

Prayer: Gracious and loving God, help us to see your grace poured out for us, and to share your love with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.