God is love?...it doesn't sound like it to me!!?

Question

"The glory of Israel will fly away like a bird, for your children will die at birth or perish in the womb or never even be conceived. Even if your children do survive to grow up, I will take them from you. It will be a terrible day when I turn away and leave you alone. I have watched Israel become as beautiful and pleasant as Tyre. But now Israel will bring out her children to be slaughtered." O LORD, what should I request for your people? I will ask for wombs that don't give birth and breasts that give no milk. The LORD says, "All their wickedness began at Gilgal; there I began to hate them. I will drive them from my land because of their evil actions. I will love them no more because all their leaders are rebels. The people of Israel are stricken. Their roots are dried up; they will bear no more fruit. And if they give birth, I will slaughter their beloved children." (Hosea 9:11-16 NLT)

Answer 1

I think it's important to note that if you believe that the bible is "the literal word of god" then the god you believe in will appear to be somewhat schizophrenic - in the first half, the old testament (The Jewish Torah), it seems that god is forever angry, punishing and blaming and smiting, followed by some pretty sick stunts (the story of Job comes to mind) and then in the second act, the new testament, he's a god of love and forgiveness with nary an explanation of this change of heart.

However, if you open your mind and accept that the bible may be the word of god but has clearly been interpreted by flawed men who will have put their own spin on things then maybe you can decide whether god is love by just asking yourself what you believe.

Answer 2

First God Is love but love to be love can NOT be forced, God allows choice, when A person or people turn away from the source of life the natural results must be relized, The results of the people who reject God's way is death, God does allow choice but what happens next goes along with it too. Take the children in moses time, sun light hardens clay but melts butter, hearts that do not melt under God's love will harden. More questions [e-mail] free bible lessons www.itiswritten.com

Answer 3

I don't know that I believe in god as a single, almighty entity. I'm unsure because we know that the Bible was written by men, not sent by carrier-pigeon from Cloud 9. Those who were responsible for writing the gospels of the Bible were of course influenced by the political power struggles of the day. Even Jesus was a Jew so who is to say that Christianity is the right path? Most religions preach the same things anyway: no stealing old ladies' handbags, butchering/ wounding with intent, playing around with thy neighbours hot wife/hubbie and definately no asking questions. A vicar can hear the whistle of a boiling kettle from a mile away and will be quick to ask for monetary help for the leaky church roof but how many of them reach out to people in a noticeable way? To my mind Christian love is harder to find in today's world than it is to feel the power of your own strength in your heart and mind and see the wonders of nature around you.

Answer 4

(Sigh) We're judging God again....

Take one step back and look at what's going on. Israel is rebelling against God. Idolatry. Rampant promiscuous sex. God had appointed David's family to rule but the Ten Tribes had set up a different line of kings for themselves.

Does not a Father do a disservice to his children if he does not provide correction and guidance?

Answer 5

First we need to determine which God we are talking about here. Are you referring to the real God, the unconditionally loving God who we are all a part of? This is the one Jesus was talking about when he said the kingdom of God is within you. The one who is our dearest friend and closest companion.

Or are we talking about the angry little judgmental God that lives on some far off cloud called heaven. The one who seems to be more concerned with our errors than he is with our successes? You know the egocentric needy little God that always wants people to worship him. The one who is always unavailable because he is only a fantasy? This is the god you seem to be quoting. You need to specify if you want a real answer.

Answer 6

I guess as Jesus Christ was jewish I guess you are talking about the Jewish God. God as being a god of pure love only came into being in the 13th century. Before that god was a vengeful and wrathful god so if you read the holy books of the christian faith god is about 50/50 bringing duality into being. The problem with followers of christianity they only see the positive aspects of their god and try to hide the negative aspects hence why they never learn and progress within their spirituality. Within Judaism however the teachings of the kabbala teaches you about duality and teaches balance as being the way to oneness with your creator. Who's right Jesus the Jew or the jesus who later was was recreated as a Christain.

I am neither Jewish or Christian but have a deep knowledge and understanding of both cultures.

Answer 7

I guess I must have missed the question somewhere amongst the ramblings.

God is love.

The Bible is a book wrote by man.

And, man isn't always loving.

Then again, I guess God is allowed to get upset every now and then, right? I mean, if I created the whole world and this is how it turned out I'd be pretty upset too!!

Answer 8

God is love - True. The problem is you are looking at His love with respect to this life. He is looking at it from an eternal perspective. I live in Africa and I think we are the most blessed. It takes 1 missionary one day to convert 5 Africans to Christ. It takes 5 missionaries one year to convert one European to Christ.

When you look at the possessions, you will conclude the European is more blessed. When you look from an external perspective you will think otherwise.

The Israelis played a divorce and reconciliation game with God. If god closed their wombs in order to restore the relationship, then that is in order!!.

Answer 9

God is love, but he isn't ONLY love. The people of Israel made a covenant with God to obey His laws and they were warned what would happen if they didn't. They kept on disobeying and turning their backs on Him so He went through with it. Every time they repented He forgave them and they prospered.

Answer 10

& your point being, Poor Israel?
Well God's had more than 1 falling out with them & they only believe half of his book!

Anyway the Verse referred 2 happened a long long time ago.
God's not in charge down here right now so I doubt the Israelis have much 2 worry about right now!